September 27, 2011
England

Rethink on wind farm plan

www.cambridge-news.co.uk 27 September 2011

Councillors yesterday forced a rethink on a decision to scrap proposed wind farms on public land in Cambridgeshire.

The county council’s cabinet had dropped plans for turbines on four arable sites, as the News reported, arguing they were listening to residents’ concerns.

The earmarked fields were at Whitehall Farm in Littleport, Wolvey Farm in Coveney, Morleys Farm between Warboys and Chatteris, and Crowtree Farm in Farcet.

But opposition councillors were worried about the environmental impact of the decision, and also the loss of £1 million of anticipated annual income.

Liberal Democrat members called in the ruling for review and were yesterday backed by a council panel – the enterprise, growth and community infrastructure overview and scrutiny committee.

The issue will now go back before the cabinet.

Cllr Kevin Wilkins, the opposition environment chief, told the News: “The blanket ban on wind power is absurd and particularly unfair on the council’s tenant farmers.”

Leader Cllr Nick Clarke described the vote as a “good example of local democracy at work”.

He said: “Cabinet members listened carefully to representations from people in the communities they represent on this issue, as they do on every issue.

“Members of the overview and scrutiny committee decided to refer the decision back to cabinet for further consideration after listening to similar representations from the people who elected them.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/27/rethink-on-wind-farm-plan/