March 23, 2012
England

Meeting at St Mary’s Congregational Hall called to discuss Ketton wind turbine plans

Rutland & Stamford Mercury, www.stamfordmercury.co.uk 23 March 2012

A special meeting has been called to discuss plans to build two wind turbines in a village.

Ketton Parish Council will hold an extraordinary meeting at 7.30pm on Tuesday at St Mary’s Congregational Hall, Chapel Lane, to talk about REG Windpower’s plans to build two 100m masts on land off Steadfold Lane.

The firm has submitted a planning application for the turbines to Rutland County Council and the parish council needs to finalise its response.

Parish council chairman, Coun Glenis Southern, said: “There is a great deal of anxiety in the village. There is a very active group that has started a petition and a significant number of letters have been submitted to the county council.”

The Ketton and Tinwell Action Group on Wind Turbines was formed to oppose the plans and hopes the county council will refuse permission.

Chairman Dick Bell said: “Villagers are up in arms against the plans. People’s reaction in general is that it is exactly the wrong place for turbines.”

The group says it is not against wind power in general, but that the turbines would be located too close to housing and the Hanson Cement plant.

The group wants objectors to send letters to planning officer Nick Thrower, with copies to Couns Barrie Roper and Chris Emmett, at Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham, LE15 6HP, and to Rutland MP Alan Duncan at The House of Commons, London, SW1 0AA, before March 30.

REG Windpower has proposed a community fund alongside the turbines which could make a lump sum of £86,000 available to local parishes as soon planning permission is granted, with further annual payments for good causes throughout the turbines’ working life.

Development manager Owen Saward said: “On average the wind farm would produce enough safe, clean electricity to meet the equivalent need of every home in Ketton, Tinwell and Easton-on-the-Hill every year.

“We have held a number of events to meet local people and hear their views. As a result we commissioned a detailed, independent study which categorically confirmed that the proposed turbines would have no adverse effect on emissions from the cement works chimneys.”

Visit www.steadfoldlanewindfarm.co.uk for more.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/03/23/meeting-at-st-marys-congregational-hall-called-to-discuss-ketton-wind-turbine-plans/