January 20, 2011
England

Residents pack wind farm protest meeting

Staffordshire Newsletter, www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk 20 January 2011

A meeting to discuss a planned wind farm near Church Eaton was packed out with protesters.

More than 100 people attended the event at Church Eaton’s St Editha’s Church, organised by Stop Turbines Action Group (Stag) on January 13, coming from as far afield as Newport.

The session gave residents the opportunity to voice their concerns and find out more about how to object to the proposals submitted by Wind Prospect.

The Bristol-based company submitted two planning applications to South Staffordshire Council last month.

One is for a 70m wind monitoring mast and the other for six 126-metre high (base-to-tip) wind turbines, an 80-metre anemometry mast and associated infrastructure for land at New House Farm, Brineton.

Tony Lendon, chair of Stag, said “I have spoken to South Staffordshire Council and since last Wednesday there have been more than 60 people objecting, and only one person for it.

“Last week’s meeting went very well and it was a very good turn-out. Not a single person in that church said the plans were nice. Everyone was given a leaflet stating our objections We gave them at least 10 planning points they can use to object.

“We have also given leaflets to most homes in the area, around 1,000 more or less, going out as far as Bradley, Bishop’s Wood and Lapley.” Around 50 members of the public also attended Wheaton Aston Parish Council’s meeting on Tuesday at St Mary’s Church to speak out against the proposals.

Stag’s concerns about the proposal include the effect on the landscape and local wildlife, noise and an increase in traffic on rural roads during the construction process.

Residents and organisations have until January 28 to submit their comments to South Staffordshire Council.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/20/residents-pack-wind-farm-protest-meeting/