September 29, 2011
England

Wind farm plans back on the horizon

Jordan Day, www.cambridge-news.co.uk 29 September 2011

Controversial plans to build two wind farms in the Ely area are to be reconsidered.

Earlier this month, Cambridgeshire County Council’s cabinet scrapped proposals to build turbines at Whitehall Farm in Littleport and Wolvey Farm in Coveney.

The cabinet said it was listening to residents’ concerns, which included noise pollution and the visual impact the turbines would have on the Fen landscape, including the views of Ely Cathedral.

But now the schemes will go back before the cabinet – after Liberal Democrat councillors called for a review of the decision.

The opposition councillors say they were worried about the environmental impact of the decision, and also the loss of £1m of anticipated annual income.

Cllr Kevin Wilkins, the opposition environment chief, said: “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 added: “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/2011/09/29/wind-farm-plans-back-on-the-horizon/