April 22, 2012
England
England
Cornhill windfarm campaigner tries to halt turbines
The Journal, www.journallive.co.uk 21 April 2012
The Journal, www.journallive.co.uk 21 April 2012
An anti-wind campaigner in Northumberland is gearing up to take on council bosses in what could be a landmark case.
Cornhill farmer Andrew Joicey is set to launch a judicial review of Northumberland County Council’s decision to grant planning permission for three turbine schemes in the Berwick area.
Mr Joicey has instructed lawyers who submitted a pre-action protocol letter to the authority demanding information ahead of his High Court challenge in relation to single turbine applications at Wark Common, Brackenside and New Haggerston, the former two he had opposed.
The farmer, who was part of the Save our Unspoilt Landscape group which previously fought plans for turbines at Barmoor, is seeking the judicial review on the basis of his displeasure at the way the council handled those and other wind applications, in terms of how they have carried out assessments.
He has three months from the granting of the applications at the same meeting in February, when all were recommended for approval, to lodge his challenge.
Mr Joicey last night said he is acting on behalf of the “majority” of residents in the area who are not happy at how the authority handles such applications.
He is meeting the financial burden of his challenge from his own pocket, although he has had several offers of monetary assistance, but hopes to succeed and be awarded costs.
Should the challenge be successful, the planning permissions would be quashed and the applications would have to be redetermined.
Mr Joicey hopes the case could change the way the council handles wind applications.
He said: “It is time somebody stuck their neck out and I am prepared to do it. It could be significant for Northumberland.”
A spokesperson for the council said: “We are unable to comment on threatened or ongoing legal proceedings.”
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/22/cornhill-windfarm-campaigner-tries-to-halt-turbines/