June 14, 2012
England

Lincs campaigners welcome council’s anti-windfarm stance

Louth Target, www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk 13 June 2012

Wind farm campaigners have welcomed an ‘enough is enough’ stance on new wind farm developments across Lincolnshire.

On the day that Lincolnshire County Council’s executive agreed its united position on wind farm developments, campaigner Melvin Grosvenor toured Lincolnshire in an anti-wind farm lorry.

The 40ft long red and white trailer, sponsored by the Croft Wind Farm Action Group, carried the legend ‘Lincolnshire countryside is precious. Help us save it from the industrial wind turbine invasion’.

The tour started at the Lincolnshire County Council offices before going to Hemswell Cliff, Tetney, Manby, Great Carlton and then to Croft and Wainfleet.

Mr Grosvenor said: “We are delighted with this landmark decision by Lincolnshire County Council. It shows clearly the concerns of Lincolnshire residents are, at long last, being listened to and I hope East Lindsey District Council will also take the lead.

“This sends a strong signal to the Government that it can not carpet our countryside with wind turbines.”

Cllr Colin Davie, chairman of LCC’s environmental scrutiny committee, said: “The county council has a responsibility and duty to protect the natural environment and our countryside for future generations from this type of industrialisation.

“The subsidies to these technologies are harmful to this county and certainly harmful to those struggling with electricity bills.

Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill added: “There’s been a proliferation of wind farms across Lincolnshire in recent years, and we feel that enough is enough.”

But East Lindsey District Council, as the local planning authority said it would not take a predetermined view.

Portfolio holder for planning, Cllr Craig Leyland, said: “When making a decision, first and foremost in our mind is the impact of the application on the local area.

“It would be inappropriate … if we were to take a blanket view to object to all wind farm developments on principle as this would simply mean that developers could then request the Government make the decision on their application as our position would be predetermined.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/14/lincs-campaigners-welcome-councils-anti-windfarm-stance/