July 4, 2008
England
England
Protesters picketed a power company promoting its plan to build six wind turbines at Sempringham Fen this week.
Members of AGAST (Action Group Against Sempringham Turbines) outlined their opposition to a wind farm outside Billingborough and Pointon village halls where Scottish Power Renewables held information days on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Both sides claimed to have won the support of residents but Agast members now hope a letter writing campaign will block the scheme at the official planning stage.
Gwen Oakes said: “Eighty per cent of turnout has been against it and every household should send a letter to the planning authority raising their objections.”
Mrs Oakes fears the value of property in the area will plummet.
She said: “I have worked for 45 years to get a house that we wanted to stay in. There will be a drop in value because of the turbines.”
Linda Pritchett added: “They would be better spending the money on solar panels and ways to save energy.”
The wind farm would be visible from villages as far away as Morton and Dyke and the visual impact of wind turbines is a major factor for protesters.
The maximum height of turbines is 125 metres and the wind farm site would cover 114 hectares including a sub-station.
Each turbine is expected to generate up to 2.3 megawatts and the wind farm would have a lifespan of 20-30 years
John Bryant, who has farmed for 40 years near the site, said: “I am for state-of-the-art atomic power. It is reliable and there are no carbon emissions.”
Scottish Power expects to submit its planning application to South Kesteven District Council in September and defended the £16million scheme, saying it would provide clean, green energy for 24,000 homes.
A spokesman for the firm said: “There are a lot of myths about wind farms. All our turbines are tested and meet standards set by local authorities and governments.
“Many people find power stations an eyesore but accept wind turbines.”
Opponents laid out a mock turbine (of the same measurements as those planned by Scottish Power) covering almost the entire playing field at Pointon.
A summary of the Environmental Impact Assessment is available at Bourne Library.
More information is available from: www.agast.co.uk and www.scottishpower.com
By Paul Clark
4 July 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/07/04/villagers-say-no-to-wind-turbines/