LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Villagers' fight against wind farm plan appeal 

Credit:  Retford Times, www.thisisretford.co.uk 16 June 2011 ~~

Protesters fighting wind farm plans for Cottam gathered on the steps of Retford Town Hall prior to the start of a public hearing.

Around 30 residents of villages from the surrounding area had gathered to protest the plans, before entering the building to hear from representatives on behalf of the application, as well as from Bassetlaw Council.

Many of the protestors held signs objecting to the plans and the concentration of power generation sites, both existing and proposed, in the area.

Bob Fleming, a spokesman for the Association Of Trentside Parish Councils representing villages in the area, claimed the proposal would make surrounding land among the most developed in the UK if it went ahead.

“Our major objection is this is a public hearing, not a public inquiry; and to the cumulative effect of these developments,” he said.

“The result of this will be the biggest concentration of power generating sites in the UK.”

Wheatley Energy Forum chairman John Anderson added: “We are threatened with a destruction of our remaining landscape.

“We already suffer from looming power stations and our only visual escape is threatened by the construction of turbines that will truly degrade the landscape of the Trent Valley.”

Bassetlaw Council had rejected the proposals for twelve 145m turbines in July last year, prompting applicants ProWind to place an appeal in February.

Since then, campaigners from the Association of Trentside Parish Councils have called on Bassetlaw Council to seek a planning inquiry.

Opening the hearing on Tuesday, chartered landscape architect Christopher Frost, who chaired the meeting, said a full inquiry was unnecessary.

“An inquiry is usually needed when there is disagreement between the main parties on something that needs considerable investigation. I think in this case, the matters can be resolved through a hearing.”

But there was an immediate snag when Mr Fletcher said a statement of common ground produced by Bassetlaw Council and ProWind to establish information agreed on by both parties needed to be more up to date.

He said: “It’s unfortunate officers of the council don’t appear to be here today.

“Clearly this is an important report and clarity is required on it, and we probably need to gain that clarity on it and explore it before examining the issues further.”

Representing Bassetlaw Council, Robert Fletcher, of Baseley Associates, said the document had been drawn up through council officers and not elected members.

“I must say I was surprised when I came to the case that it was agreed by officers and not referred by members,” he said.

“I am taking the members’ view on the cumulative impact and whether the landscape can absorb it.”

Members of Bassetlaw Council’s planning committee had originally rejected the proposals on the grounds of size and the impact on the landscape, in an area home to several power stations.

Following an afternoon site visit, the hearing was adjourned to July 14.

Source:  Retford Times, www.thisisretford.co.uk 16 June 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon