May 20, 2008
England

Farmers plough on with plan for turbines

A planning application to erect a wind farm on land near Benington has been submitted to East Herts District Council.

Developer RH Bott and Son will build three 400ft high turbines on land on High Elms Lane between Benington, Aston and Watton-at-Stone if their application is approved.

The turbines have the potential to produce more than 12.5 million units of electricity per year – or five per cent of East Herts domestic demand and generate enough electricity each year to supply around 1,000 homes.

Once the wind turbines have paid back the energy used in their construction, which takes less than 10 months, they produce no emissions and the electricity they make is completely renewable.

Farmer Andrew Bott said: “This will go a long way to meeting the district’s renewable energy target and will provide a significant source of locally produced electricity.

“It is the most effective way for us to help tackle climate change with the resources that we have on our farm.”

Rowan O’Duffy of the Stop Benington Wind Farm (SBWF) action group, said: “We are extremely disappointed that the Bott family have gone ahead with the application, despite nearly 90 per cent of Benington residents registering their opposition. This shows they simply do not care and are willing to destroy this beautiful and historical location purely for their own profits.

“What we hope now is that as many people as possible write to the planning department at East Herts to voice their opposition to the proposal.”

Copies of the planning application are available at Stevenage Library and via www.eastherts.gov.uk

During Wind Week on June 14 and 15 wind farms across the country will be opening their gates to the public so they can learn more about wind energy. For more information visit: www.embracewind.com

RH Bott and Son can be contacted at www.beningtonwindfarm.co.uk

The Comet

19 May 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/05/20/farmers-plough-on-with-plan-for-turbines/