September 7, 2007
England
England
A power company this week pledged to continue with its plans for a wind turbine farm in the Norfolk countryside despite strong opposition from villagers and planners.
E-On UK wants to build a five wind turbine farm close to Syderstone and neighbouring villages but a recent parish poll of residents gave an overwhelming thumbs-down to the scheme.
The power company were dealt a further blow to its plans on Monday night when King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough planners voted by almost unanimous majority to throw out plans for the siting of an anemometer (wind speed sensor) on the site. Members of the Development Control Board overturned advice from officers who had recommended approval for the.
On Tuesday parish council chairman Gerry Taylor said that he was pleased that the planners had supported the parish council’s referendum result and thrown out the proposal for the anemometer.
“The people of the village who were eligible to vote in the parish poll in August have shown that they do not want the wind turbine farm or the anemometer and the planners have taken that view on board in making their decision,” said Mr Taylor.
Also pleased at the result was Reg Thompson, vice chairman of the action group called Against Turbines at Chiplow”.
He said : “With over 500 off shore turbines approved along the Norfolk coast, the county has more than met its quota for renewable energy. I believe that the decision at the meeting sends a clear message to the power companies and greedy landowners that there should be no more shore wind farms blighting our beautiful Norfolk countryside”.
But a spokesman for E-On UK admitted to being “disappointed” that the Borough Council planners have chosen to reject the siting of the wind sensor despite it being recommended for approval by the planning officers.
“We continue to believe that this is an excellent site for a wind farm and we’ll look to work with the Council to see if it possible to re-submit our application,” said the spokesman.
The spokesman also said that the company would consider appealing against the refusal decision.
The site proposed by E-On UK is at Chiplow, close to Syderstone and neighbouring communities of Bagthorpe and Barmer.
The power company believes there are significant benefits for the area , including a £20,000 annual contribution to the community.
6 September 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/09/07/power-company-undeterred-by-turbine-no/