December 3, 2007
England
England
Growing opposition to a wind turbine in the Vale of Belvoir has led to nearly £10,000 being raised to fight the campaign.
A meeting of Belvoir Locals Oppose Turbines (Blot) in Bottesford saw more than 300 people turn up to show their support for the cause.
But not everybody is opposed to renewable energy in the Vale of Belvoir.
Director of Ridgewind, Nigel Goodhew said: “We have had lots of letters and phone calls in support of the project. The problem is, people don’t shout as loud for things they support as they do for things they are against.”
Plans to build the 60 metre test mast were approved three weeks ago by Melton Council.
Work on the turbine, to be built in a field off Main Street, Normanton, should start in January and it will remain in place between three months and a year.
Blot is worried it could signal the go-ahead for a full scale windfarm with 40 turbines measuring 125 metres.
A spokesman from the group said: “The monstrous development will cause permanent and irreversible damage to the landscape and character of the Vale of Belvoir and the surrounding villages.”
But Oxfordshire firm Ridgewind has said the test mast will be 60 metres tall and if the farm is to be built the number of turbines to be constructed at the Normanton site has yet to be decided.
By Ben Truslove
29 November 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/12/03/vale-turbine-protesters-set-up-fighting-fund/