September 7, 2011
England

Residents’ anger over Bodham turbine plans prompts special meeting

By Lucy Clapham, Eastern Daily Press, www.edp24.co.uk 7 September 2011

Angry residents turned out in force to discuss their concerns over controversial plans to build a wind turbine in Bodham.

Homeowners both in favour and against the proposals packed into the village hall during Monday’s parish council meeting where a heated debate ensued.

Members were due to either support or oppose the plans to erect the 84-metre high structure on land at Pond Farm during the meeting.

But discussions went on so long they deferred their decision and arranged a separate public meeting to allow the debate to continue, and give residents more opportunity to have their say.

Barbara Emery, Bodham parish Council clerk, said: “There were a number of people who wanted to speak and indeed did and covered the same points but not many Bodham parishioners were given the chance to speak just because of numbers and it was felt there should be another meeting.

“Feelings were running high.”

The turbine, which if built would generate 800kw of electricity – enough to power 6-700 average sized homes – was also a major talking point for North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb during his tour of constituent villages.

He said: “A lot of people came out to talk about the wind turbine and expressed their concerns about that. I discussed it with a significant number of people in a number of villages and have written to the (district) council asking a number of questions on their behalf.”

The turbine plans have been put forward by family-run company Genetec, which has said all the electricity made by it would feed into the substation at West Beckham and into surrounding homes.

* A date for the public meeting has not yet been set.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/07/residents-anger-over-bodham-turbine-plans-prompts-special-meeting/