January 12, 2012
England

Campaigners vow to fight over Rooksbridge wind farm

www.thisisthewestcountry.co.uk 12 January 2012

Campaigners fighting plans to build a wind farm at Rooksbridge near Burnham have vowed to fight on, despite the developer of the project agreeing to reduce its scale.

Broadview Energy Limited had planned to build six 140-metre turbines but, following consultation with the community, it this week announced it plans to reduce that to four turbines of a maximum height of 130m.

Despite the concession, members of the NoPilrow group, which is campaigning against the scheme it says will spoil the countryside, said they will continue to block the move.

Brian Shepherd, from the group, told the Weekly News: “Although to have a reduction in the scale of the project is good news, to have no wind farm at all would be better.”

A spokesman for Broadview said it had consulted with residents, parish councils, Sedgemoor District Council, Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency.

Feedback received during the consultation process has, in combination with the information gathered through numerous detailed technical and environmental surveys, helped to shape the final proposal.

Project manager Tom Cosgrove said: “We wanted to get as much input from the community as possible through our various consultation events.

“We’ve listened to the feedback and, wherever possible, factored this into our final proposal. It is important to recognise that larger wind turbines produce more sustainable electricity.

“By reducing the size of the scheme, we believe we have found the right balance for the Pilrow site. Finding sites which are suitable for wind farms is complex.

“Following on from our initial detailed feasibility work, our studies have continued to demonstrate the Pilrow site is an excellent location for a wind farm of this size.”

A visit to an existing wind farm is also being planned which will give the community an opportunity to experience turbines in operation.

Details of these events will be available via the project website www.pilrowwindfarm.com or by invitation to residents.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/12/campaigners-vow-to-fight-over-rooksbridge-wind-farm/