May 29, 2008
England
England
Buoyed up by Government incentives to produce electricity from windpower, firms have been queuing up to submit plans for windfarms in the Harborough and Lutterworth areas.
Three companies have shown interest in three plots in Husbands Bosworth, North Kilworth and on the former airfield between Harborough, Lubenham and Gartree.
Energy 4 All, which has been assessing the former airfield site, will be staging three public consultations next month and hopes to submit plans to install four wind turbines, which will be no higher than 125 metres, by the end of the year.
John Malone, development manager for Energy 4 All, said: “The aim of the project is to get the whole community involved by creating a democratic co-operative.
“We want to be able to offer shares to the public so they can receive the benefits from the project too.”
The first public meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 4, in Harborough Theatre lounge between 1pm and 9pm.
The second is at Foxton in the Robert Monk Hall on Thursday, June 5, between 1pm and 9pm and the third is in Lubenham on Saturday, June 11, in the village hall from 1pm to 9pm.
Harborough district councillor for Foxton Mike Ward said: “My personal opinion is that I have reservations about the development of windfarms because I believe they are totally unsustainable.
“What energy they do produce is such a small amount that you’d still need a power station to make up the difference.”
Jorvik Renewables, the company looking into a site in Husbands Bosworth, said there is no definite decision over the site yet.
Ian Bratton, director of the company, said: “We’re currently investigating the feasibility of a windfarm in that area.
We have not submitted any formal application yet as we are still going through different consultations.
“We consider a lot of sites and the site in Husbands Bosworth is a good one but we have to consult 40 or so bodies before any decisions are made.
“The feasibility stage usually takes up to six months so we’ll know more then.”
The third potential wind turbine plan is different from the two mentioned above as it is not a company seeking the site but a family-run farm has contracted the company, Wind Direct, to get a single turbine installed on their land.The family approached the company after deciding they would like to be more diverse as well as to take advantage of the environmental benefits.
Sparrow Lodge Farm, in Pincet Lane, North Kilworth, has been passed down through three generations.
Family member, William Miles, said: “We approached the company and spoke to them about the idea. We’re paying for it and employing the company to sort it out for us. A single turbine is easy to escape from and won’t be damaging to the landscape.”
Laura Carse, Wind Direct development manager, said: “We originally considered a site close to the Naseby battlefield but decided that the cultural heritage of the site could be compromised.
20 May 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/05/29/not-so-much-a-farm-more-a-forest/