April 20, 2011
England

Calls to take down mast after breach

Lincolnshire Echo, www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk 20 April 2011Lincolnshire Echo, www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk 20 April 2011

Calls have been made for a wind monitoring mast at Wainfleet St Mary to be removed after a breach of planning conditions.

RWE Npower Renewables put up the 80-metre anemometer mast on land of Fodderdyke Bank last month after winning an appeal for planning permission after it was refused by East Lindsey District Council.

A condition of the planning inspectorate’s decision was that bird deflectors should be placed on the guy wires at the time of installation, but this wasn’t carried out.

Vice-chairman of the Wainfleet Wind Farm Action Group Melvin Grosvenor contacted ELDC about the breach and an investigation was carried out.

A spokesman for ELDC said: “We visited the site on Tuesday and wrote to both the company and the complainant yesterday (Wednesday), informing them of the breach and allowing 14 days for the breach to be rectified.

“We have already spoken to the company, which admits responsibility and is in the process of rectifying the problem as soon as possible.”

Mr Grosvenor said: “I am calling for the mast to be removed immediately.

“It has been up for two weeks. This breach is given even more significance as there have been sightings of a Sea Eagle flying the Wolds hovering and feeding.

“This is a very rare bird of prey and only four or five have been spotted in the last few years.

“It will be flying from Gibraltar Point which is not that far away from this mast and that bird will be at risk.

“We are dealing with a big company that should know better. It is a slap in the face quite frankly.”

Developer from RWE Npower Renewables, Charlotte Healey, said: “We are aware of the situation and are currently in the process of rectifying the issue.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/04/20/calls-to-take-down-mast-after-breach/