June 2, 2011
England

STAG face fresh wind plan fight

icstafford.icnetwork.co.uk 1 June 2011

Campaigners are gearing up for another fight against plans to build a wind gauge near Church Eaton.

Wind Prospect’s plans for the 70m wind anemometer on land at New House Farm, Brineton, were thrown out by South Staffs planners earlier this year.

But the firm has since appealed the decision, with the case due to be heard at South Staffordshire council buildings on July 27.

And members of campaign group STAG (Stop Turbine Action Group) – set up to fight the proposals – are urging all objections to be sent to the council by the June 9 deadline.

STAG chairman Tony Lendon said members are ‘fairly confident’ of winning their fight against the appeal. He added: “We are ready to go, we have a strong team behind us and I think we have a strong case.

“We just want to ensure that all objections are in by the deadline.”

Campaigners say the wind mast would be too intrusive, would affect house prices and the countryside.

The area’s MEP Mike Nattrass added: “Wind farms and wind masts are not just unsightly, there are also not viable. People like to be green, I like to be green but not when something is clearly not viable.

“We need to find an alternative way and if these things need to be tested then the masts should be placed off-shore. The masts are an obscene piece of engineering.”

Bosses at Wind Prospect Ltd have said previously that the project has been subject to detailed environmental impact studies and the proposal for any future wind farm would make a ‘significant contribution’ to onshore wind generation in the Midlands region.

Comments and objections on the application should be sent to: Emma Daniels, Team P2, The Planning Inspectorate, 3/22 Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Bristol. BS1 6PN.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/02/stag-face-fresh-wind-plan-fight/