May 6, 2012
England

Cold comfort for villagers

Daventry Express, www.daventryexpress.co.uk 5 May 2012

An inquiry into a windfarm planned for Winwick took a twist on its final day when the developers withdrew one of the turbines.

Energy firm E-On proposed an alternative scheme which involved six 125-metre turbines for the site, between Winwick, Cold Ashby and Guilsborough, as opposed to the previous seven.

The changes were made before closing statements from the applicant, Daventry District Council (DDC) and Winwick Parish Council.

An E-On spokesman said: “We believe our proposals to build a seven-turbine wind farm are appropriate for the site but recognise it is open to the planning inspector to take a different view.

“During the public inquiry E-On put forward an alternative six-turbine project, with the turbine closest to the village removed.

“As our existing sites throughout the UK show, we have a strong track record of being open, honest and working with local communities at all stages of developments.”

People in the village have been left confident that the windfarm plans will be proposed.

Winwick resident Sue Sherman said: “People in Winwick have already emptied their bank accounts and raided their pension funds to fight this appeal and we have been touched by the level of support our David and Goliath struggle has received both locally and nationally.

“We believe the tide is beginning to turn, with the Government’s increasing emphasis on localism.

“This, combined with our strong arguments against the desecration of the Northamptonshire countryside we hope will be enough to convince the Planning Inspector to blow this wretched wind farm away.”

A final decision on the windfarm is due to be made by the planning inspector in the near future. E-On appealed due to DDC not determining the application soon enough.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/06/cold-comfort-for-villagers/