July 11, 2011
England

Village residents will stand by council in wind farm appeal

Bicester Advertiser & Review, www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk 8 July 2011

Residents of Helmdon and the surrounding villages are bracing themselves for a planning appeal after proposals for a controversial wind farm were turned down.

Last week members of South Northants Council planning committee refused an application by Broadview Energy Ltd to build five wind turbines at Spring Ridge Farm just off the Welsh Lane.

Helmdon residents fought the plan vigorously from the beginning and quickly teamed up with surrounding villages to form the Helmdon, Stuchbury and Greatworth Wind Action Group. They employed landscape and noise experts to build a case against the plan.

HSGWAG member Fiona Kelly said they were thrilled and praised the way SNC had handled the application.

Mrs Kelly said a wind farm policy document and the SNC officers report on the application set out clear reasons for refusal but warned the fight may not be over.

She said: “We are all very pleased because the council has set out really comprehensive range of reasons for refusal, which was backed up by our own experts, and we are ready to fight alongside the council should Broadview launch and appeal.

A spokesman for Broadview said they would make a statement to residents once SNC had published the final refusal document.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/11/village-residents-will-stand-by-council-in-wind-farm-appeal/