Villagers rallied to protest against plans to build a wind farm which objectors have described as potentially “catastrophic”.
Residents from Watton-at-Stone joined a protest walk on Sunday to object to a proposal that would see much of the building traffic directed through their village.
R.H Bott and Sons want to erect a three turbine site in neighbouring Bennington and will make a planning application in November.
Dismayed residents are concerned that their village’s narrow roads will be unable to deal with large vehicles that could pass through the village during construction
Alison Dalby, who is part of the Stop the Bennington Wind Farm campaign, was among the 200 objectors who walked to Bennington.
She said: “The people of Watton fought so hard in the eighties to get the bypass to stop traffic travelling through the village.
“This is a backward step and could be absolutely catastrophic.
“I know it might seem beneficial for the environment but Watton’s roads are just not big enough to deal with the long transporters.”
Farmer Andrew Bott, whose family own the land on which building work would take place, described concerns as “alarmist”.
“It is true that the main parts of the turbines would be sent through Watton-at-Stone, but it would only be 20 loads,” he said.
“Trucks carrying wheat and fertiliser go through the village all day and no one bats an eyelid.
“It may be slightly chaotic but only for about half an hour or so.
09 October 2007
EDITORIAL – whtimes@archant.co.uk
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/10/09/villagers-protest-over-wind-farm-plans/