September 24, 2007
England
England
The tranquility of the Dengie Peninsula is being sacrificed to the Green lobby according to local people.
Residents of that isolated part of Essex claim the government decision to allow a 10 turbine wind farm to be built there is ‘politically expedient and undemocratic’.
The council rejected the application for the farm with its 121 metre high turbines and ancillary buildings earlier this year, but lost the subsequent appeal on Monday.
Government planning inspector, Peter Major, overruled Maldon Council to give commercial giant NPower Renewables the go-ahead for the development at Hockley Farm, near Bradwell
Now the authority and local protest group Bradwell and Tillingham Tacking Lost Environment (BATTLE) are taking legal advice about a possible High Court challenge to the decision.
Robert Dewick, who is the ward councillor for the area and lives within a mile of the site, said: “It is purely a political decision aimed at appeasing the climate change band wagon.
“This area is a peaceful haven, which we guard jealously. I cannot see the sense in trying to save the planet by destroying what we have.
“I would not have considered the East of England the most wind efficient in the country anyway.”
Neil Yates, who chairs BATTLE, claimed the appeal decision was undemocratic.
“The local council and about 95 per cent of residents opposed this proposed development. Our views seem to have been swept aside,” he said.
Michael Pullen, spokesman for NPower Renewables, said the farm could serve up to 10,600 when it was up and running and the wind was blowing.
He said the company had about 35 applications in for renewable energy schemes – many of them wind farms – across the country.
The Bradwell consent is valid for 25 years.
By Pat Jones
21 September 2007
Bradwell And Tillingham Tackling Lost Environment (BATTLE): www.bradwell.info
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/09/24/just-leave-us-alone/