May 29, 2008
England
England
Burntwood councillor Eric Drinkwater has given his backing to a new action group set up to fight the wind farm site near Chase Terrace.
Cllr Drinkwater, who says he wants ‘all sides to be heard’, chaired the first meeting of the action group which was held in Chase Terrace.
About 20 people attended the meeting and members have now set up an action plan which could include campaigning outside local supermarkets and distributing leaflets.
Chase Terrace campaigner Dave Baker is one of those spearheading the Bleak House Wind Farm Action Group which has set up a website under the banner Staffordshire Protest Against Wind Farms (SPAWF).
Mr Baker said campaigners in Burntwood and Heath Hayes have now joined forces to stop the scheme on land at the former Bleak House site.
“We’ve all pulled together to form one group,” he said.
“There’s power in numbers. There were always action groups before but it was a little bit fragmented.”
Cllr Drinkwater told The Post: “I fully support this group and their aims. Members of the public need to know what is happening on their doorstep.”
The new group will be meeting every two weeks in the run-up to the application being heard and are now discussing how to best present their case at the planning committee stage.
Although members are against the wind farm, they say they are not against renewable green energy and suggest the site could be used for growing bio fuels instead to help the fight against climate change.
Under the banner Say No to Bleak House Wind Farm the website outlines a number of aspects including the effect on wildlife such as great crested newts, people’s health (sufferers of epilepsy in particular) and visual appearance.
The website also shows ‘disaster pictures’ and warning signs from wind farms in other parts of the country.
The group also plans to stage a number of exhibitions.
The controversial planning application from Harworth Power has been lodged with Cannock Chase Council.
Check out the website www.spawf.bravehost.com for more information.
*The action group can be contacted on www.bwfag.co.uk or 07876 746 621
By Janet Lee
29 May 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/05/29/backing-for-wind-farm-battle-group/