May 13, 2012
England

‘Windfarm would be too close to houses’

Daventry Express, www.daventryexpress.co.uk/ 13 May 2012

Daventry’s MP has told a windfarm inquiry that locals have been treated ‘dreadfully and with disrespect’ by proposed developers.

Hemex are appealing to build six turbines in Lilbourne after the plans were thrown out by Daventry District Council (DDC) last October.

Last year, in neighbouring Yelvertoft, a DDC decision to reject eight turbines was overturned on appeal.

The Lilbourne planning inquiry began last week and on Friday members of the public were able to give their views.

Daventry MP Chris Heaton-Harris criticised Hemex for not properly communicating with villagers.

He said: “As far as I can see any consultation has been done via a website which has been updated irregularly.

“The developer seems to have used telepathy to keep people informed and my constituents have been treated dreadfully and with disrespect.

“I have also not seen any evidence of how the materials are going to be transported and the noise impact has been underestimated. But then again this is an area with very low windspeed so the turbines may never be turning to make any noise.”

Vaughan Wright, who lives on Yelvertoft Road in Lilbourne, added: “I’ve lived here for 17 years and our house is the closest to these proposed turbines.

“One would be 500m away and one would be 750m away and we would be able to see them from every window.

“I imagine it will be like a disco in my house with all the flicker. This would just be too close to the house.

The inquiry also heard how any development would have a detrimental impact on wildlife.

Keen birdwatcher Michael Newhouse, who’s lived in Lilbourne for 32 years, said: “I disagree with the area being described as of low value with regards to species assessed.

“We have skylarks and linnets which have both been red listed by the RSPB because they are in danger of disappearing.”

The inquiry is expected to finish tomorrow (Friday).

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/13/windfarm-would-be-too-close-to-houses/