November 1, 2007
England
England
Following the decision by Berwick Borough Council planning committee to refuse the planning application for 10 wind turbines at Wandylaw, the developers, RidgeWind, have said they have not yet decided on whether to appeal the decision.
Nigel Goodhew, director of RidgeWind, told the ‘Advertiser’: “Obviously we are totally dismayed at the decision. We are reviewing all the options that are available to us.
“This is the one project that had received positive planning recommendation and had incredible support, and independent and neutral surveys and reports endorsed the proposal,” he added. “We feel that this was a unique opportunity which has been possibly missed.”
Mr Goodhew also commented: “We had a number of supporters at the meeting and feel that has been unrepresented in the press.” He went on to make the point that, in general, if you are in favour of something you are less likely to attend the meeting than if you are against it, and that objectors are, more often than not, more vocal than supporters of such projects.
Heather Cairns, a former leader of Alnwick District Council, had her views in favour of the application voiced at the meeting last Tueday evening by David Griggs, and he too was disappointed in the article in this paper and requested the statement he read out at the meeting be published to redress the balance.
The statement from Mrs Cairns, read by Mr Griggs said: “Wind turbines will not be here forever, the technology will move on but I move that they are a necessity now for clean energy for the district. It concluded: “I urge you councillors to take the lead, be brave, have bottle and balls, make this an innovative forward-looking council. Approve this application supported by your officers.”
Mr Griggs went on, in his own submission to the committee, to counter a number of the arguments put against wind farms, including the argument about the use of concrete in the foundations for wind turbines. He stated that this was: “Hardly a good argument when many of those putting forward such ideas want new nuclear power stations or biofuel plants. I have read that 14 million tonnes of concrete is used to build a modern nuclear power station. Moreover, do anti wind farm protestors wish to see a nuclear power station in their backyard.”
By Adam Drummond
1 November 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/11/01/no-decision-yet-on-windfarm-appeal/