August 19, 2012
England

Pressure hots up over wind mast

Skegness Standard | www.skegnessstandard.co.uk 19 August 2012

A controversial wind mast has again come under fire from planners after an energy firm failed to install correct deflective panels before deadline.

RWE npower renewables has already been told it has to install bird protecting panels on its 80 metre wind mast as originally agreed in its planning application.

The firm had appealed to remove the condition that the anemometer’s guide ropes be fitted with bird deflectors, but this was overturned by East Lindsey District Council (ELDC) back in November.

Despite having the panels included in it original application, RWE argued they were surplus to requirement after following its own investigations and built the mast near Wainfleet without them.

In November, planning officials insisted the firm comply with its original application, and despite installing the deflectors, planners said additional ones needed to be added to the outside guide ropes. They gave RWE until August 4 to rectify matters.

However, planners at ELDC were forced to write to RWE on August 6 stating it had breached a conditional notice after missed the deadline.

James Gilbert, communications team leader for ELDC, said: “A letter was sent to RWE stating there had been a breach of condition notice after it failed to install bird deflectors on the outer guide ropes.

“RWE has until September 6 to rectify the problem otherwise they are breaking he law. We are urging RWE to rectify the issue as quickly as possible.”

The mast was built to gauge the site’s suitability as a wind farm, for which RWE has already submitted an application to build four 127 metre turbines.

The bird deflectors are designed to help local wildlife navigate around the towering mast.

Wainfleet Windfarm Action Group (WWAG), which opposes the anemometer and the proposed wind farm, believes the energy firm to be untrustworthy after it failed to correct the problem,

Group chairman Melvin Grosvenor said: “It shows a total disregard to the decision and there will be serious issues if this isn’t resolved. I am fed up to the back teeth and we will continue to fight tooth and nail.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/19/pressure-hots-up-over-wind-mast/