July 20, 2012
England

Protest group to fight plans for two wind farms in West Lindsey

Lincolnshire Echo | www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk 20 July 2012

A residents’ group has been set up to oppose plans for two wind farms in West Lindsey.

It comes after RWE Npower Renewables formally submitted plans for ten 415ft turbines on land beside the A15 at Hemswell Cliff.

Villages Of The Cliff Against Turbines has been set up to fight the Hemswell plan and a similar proposal for 17 windmills four miles away at Yawthorpe, near Corringham.

It already has the support of West Lindsey MP Edward Leigh, who has condemned wind farms as visually obtrusive.

In addition, Lincolnshire County Council has called on developers to concentrate on offshore wind projects.

Earlier this month, RWE submitted a formal planning application for the site 13km west of Gainsborough – with a generating capacity of 25mW.

The Hemswell Cliff site alone would power up to 11,600 homes.

But the action group has claimed that wind power is “unrealisable” and is fraught with health-related concerns.

“We are independent and non-political, but opposed to the development,” it said in a statement.

“A wind farm is a huge industrial site and a turbine is a huge noisy machine.

“It is the height of a 30-storey office block or factory, which no planners would approve on this site.

“World-wide there is concern from the medical profession that living less than 10km away can be a danger to health.”

But RWE claims that out of the 240 local residents who attended the public exhibitions held in January, 52 per cent were either in support of the wind farm or undecided.

Spokesman Robert Warren said: “Getting to this stage of development is a great achievement for us and meeting targets for renewable energy is a big challenge.

“Onshore wind farms, such as the one proposed near Hemswell Cliff, play a vital part of the ongoing effort to help tackle climate change.

“If granted consent, we would work with the community to tailor a package that meets their needs, such as refurbishing community halls or supporting local activities.”

West Lindsey District Council has launched a formal consultation on the plans.

Officers will then compile a report, which will be submitted to the development management committee in the autumn.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/20/protest-group-to-fight-plans-for-two-wind-farms-in-west-lindsey/