March 26, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
The developer behind a controversial windfarm last night pledged to press ahead with its proposals – despite a poll of villagers revealing massive opposition to the renewable-energy scheme.
Enertrag UK, the Diss-based developer behind plans for seven 130m turbines near Hempnall, said the poll results would instead make it double its efforts to win villagers over.
Hempnall district councillor Michael Windridge spent £400 of his own money on letters asking each resident whether they were for or against the proposal, including a stamped-addressed envelope with each.
A similar exercise by Enertrag earlier in the year got just 25 responses from the community.
But within days of sending the letters to the 1,050 members on Hempnall’s electoral roll in 550 households, Mr Windridge had received 574 responses.
Last night, the Tory councillor said 477 residents said they were opposed to the scheme, while 96 were in support, and there had been one abstention – giving the ‘no’ camp an 83pc majority.
Mr Windridge will now deliver the results of the survey to South Norfolk Council for independent verification and confirmation that all signatories live within the boundaries of Hempnall parish.
eveningnews24.co.uk
26 March 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/03/26/windfarm-plans-move-forward-despite-village-opposition/