July 20, 2011
England

Call for extension to wind farm plan consultation

By Martin Neville, Isle of Wight County Press, www.iwcp.co.uk 20 July 2011

The Wellow wind farm proposal is ‘just as wrong as last time’ objectors said this week.

The Wight Against Rural Turbines (ThWART) said the planning application submitted by Vectis Wind Farm developer Infinergy for five, 100m-tall turbines looked very similar to previous plans unanimously rejected by the IW Council’s planning committee in 2006.

Stuart Hutchinson, ThWART spokesman, said: “Siting giant wind turbines at Wellow was wrong last time and it is just as wrong now.

“It is unacceptable that the local community should have to suffer the imposition of this further wind farm planning proposal, after the three years of anxiety and uncertainty caused by the previous plan.

“The only thing that has changed since then is a much wider public appreciation that wind turbines are not a reliable and effective source of renewable energy.

“The timing of this latest application is unfortunate, with many people about to go away on their summer holiday.

“We have therefore asked the council for an extension to the deadline for submitting objections.”

*Project director Herb Lindlahr said the plans were very different from the previous developer’s application.
He said: “There are fewer turbines, they are shorter and they are placed in a more compact group.”

If given planning permission, the wind farm will be used as a test-bed by Vestas Blades’ new multi-million-pound research and development centre.

Mr Lindlahr added: “Vectis Wind Farm could be a key contributor to Eco Island and the desire to generate home-grown renewable electricity for the local community.

“Currently wind power is the most cost-effective source of renewable energy in the UK and this site has ample wind speeds to make Vectis Wind Farm a true success.”

ThWART, however, believes large scale wind turbines are inappropriate for rural areas on the Isle of Wight, particularly when sited in or close to an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/20/call-for-extension-to-wind-farm-plan-consultation/