December 20, 2010
England

Village residents outraged by wind turbines proposal

Lincolnshire Echo, www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk 20 December 2010

Controversial plans to site three 90m-high wind turbines in a Lincolnshire village have sparked outrage with locals.

The development is being proposed by Nobel Foods, with energy generated set to be used to power its free range egg production farm, which houses 50,000 hens.

The firm says the turbines will go towards furthering the company’s “green aims”. But those living near the site at Lodge Farm, in Beckingham, near Sleaford, say they will be “towered over” by “intrusive” turbines.

James Finch, a sales manager from the village has rallied a group to help campaign against the plans.

“This proposal is unbelievable; to scar the village and the general landscape with three turbines the size of Big Ben is not right,” said Mr Finch, 40.

“They would be within 300m of some of the houses. Noble Foods want to put these in our back garden, take cheaper electricity to run their facilities, and what do we get? Nothing. It’s outrageous.”

Nicola Whitehead, a nurse from the village, added: “My concern is the noise generated by the turbines will be worse than the noise from the A17 and the firing range.”

Another resident, Graham Burrell, said: “You need to think about passing motorists and them being distracted by the glint from the blades as well.”

A meeting for residents and members of the local parish council to set up a campaign group against the turbines is to be held in Beckingham Village Hall tonight at 8pm.

Official plans for the development have not yet been submitted to North Kesteven District Council.

The outrage comes just days after the Echo reported how campaigners in Baumber were celebrating after plans to create eight 125m-high turbines were thrown out by the Planning Inspectorate.

Andrew Joret, technical director at Noble Foods, said the proposal has been in the pipeline for a number of months.

“We take our environmental credentials very seriously and feel very strongly this is a good thing to do,” said Mr Joret.

The turbines will be created in partnership with energy company Wind Direct Ltd. They will measure 1.3m wide and up to 90m-high. It has been estimated they will produce the equivalent annual energy consumption of more than 2,000 homes.

David Jeffery, development manager at Wind Direct Ltd, said: “Wind Direct take very seriously the need to look at the impacts of the proposed wind energy scheme and, as such, understand the concerns of local residents.

“If approved, the proposal will make Noble Foods a more sustainable and competitive company, securing vital jobs within the region, and will greatly diminish their impact on the environment preventing the release of CO2 which leads to global warming.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/12/20/village-residents-outraged-by-wind-turbines-proposal/