November 19, 2010
England

Villagers meet to oppose new wind farm near Gorefield

Story by: HYWEL BARRETT, Reporter, Cambs Times, www.cambstimes.co.uk 19 November 2010

There was standing room only in Gorefield Village Hall on Tuesday as residents voiced their anger over a new wind farm.

FenRATS (Fenland Residents Against Turbines) held the meeting, which over 100 people attended, and found that no one was in favour of a six-turbine wind farm being built between Gorefield and Sutton St Edmund.

The Treading wind farm would create enough power for 5,500 homes, but people believe that it will have a bad affect on the villages nearby, causing house prices to fall, increased lorry traffic, and wildlife to suffer.

Almost all of the 300 villagers who replied to a recent FenRAT questionnaire, were strongly opposed to a wind farm being built, with only two voting in favour.

Councillor Stephen Teirney, who spoke at the meeting, said: “There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the majority of people in and around my division who have expressed an interest are saying, quite clearly, ‘No Thanks’. It’s not even close. It’s a landslide.”

Also speaking at the meeting, campaigner Philip Potts said: “People can make a difference. The powerful forces of the establishment can be defeated. We just have to work together.”

Wind Ventures, who will send a proposal to Fenland District Council in the next two months, said: “We believed that the proposed Treading wind farm will play a role in meeting the tough renewable targets set by the government and to help tackle climate change.”

This was the third meeting of its kind, with a fourth on December 17 in Tydd St Giles, and organisers are hoping for another big turnout.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/11/19/villagers-meet-to-oppose-new-wind-farm-near-gorefield/