LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Wollaston wind farm plan opposed 

Credit:  BBC News, www.bbc.co.uk 11 November 2011 ~~

Villagers against plans for two 71m (233ft) wind turbines on a farm in Northamptonshire have raised concerns at a public meeting.

Plans for two 250KW turbines on a field off Hinwick Road, Wollaston, were met with worry over the impact they would have on the village.

The effectiveness of the turbines was questioned as was their estimated £180,000 annual subsidy.

Landowner Chris Sumner has defended the scheme.

James Fulton from Berrybrothers, who are representing Mr Sumner’s application, spoke on behalf of the scheme at the meeting.

He said the turbines were designed to set off the estimated 470 tonnes of C02 emitted annually from Tower farm.

‘Low visual impact’

He said: “The turbines chosen are tall, there is no getting around that, but they were specifically chosen for their low visual impact.

“It will aid the long term sustainability of this farming business.”

However, many residents at the meeting remained unconvinced and cheered those speaking against the plans.

Brian Skittrall, wind farm specialist for the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, said the driving force behind the applications was money.

“Given this area has one of the lowest wind resources in Britain you wonder why we are being targeted,” he said.

“There are two reasons, first of all this area is clear of restrictions like big airports, and secondly, most importantly, there are over-generous subsidies.

‘Not considering the village’

Derek Clark, UKIP MEP also spoke against the plans. He said: “They don’t work. They aren’t green. They start life with a two to three year C02 deficit.”

Residents voiced a variety reasons for their opposition the application.

Concerns included how the turbines will look, the possible effect the turbines would have on the health of residents, the noise, the effect on animals, and the effect on a site of archaeological interest.

Many questioned the 18.8p subsidy that Mr Sumner will receive for every unit of electricity produced – which equates to roughly £180,000 a year.

Resident Paul Bateman, 71, of York Road, Wollaston, said: “They are not considering the village at all.

“There are so many reasons against it, and only one for. It’s greed.”

The plan and the subsidy was defended by Mr Sumner who said the £180,000 is an estimate of what he will receive a year but added that the turbines would cost between £1.25m and £1.5m to build and maintain.

He said: “Yes there will be a profit but no-one would invest in anything without a return. It is a business opportunity but it will also help to offset my carbon footprint.”

The meeting at the village hall was the latest event organised by the campaign group Say no to Wollaston Wind farm. At the end of the meeting, 74 people voted against the scheme, 4 for it and 7 abstained.

Members of the group are flying a blimp over the village to demonstrate the height the turbines would reach.

Source:  BBC News, www.bbc.co.uk 11 November 2011

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon