December 3, 2012
England

Wind farm opponents claim Eastville road collapse proves Wainfleet proposal is unsuitable

Skegness Standard | 3 December 2012 | www.skegnessstandard.co.uk

Wind farm opponents believe a collapsed road in Eastville has demonstrated the route’s unsuitability for transporting construction materials to a proposed turbine site.

Fodderdyke Bank has been closed for up to two weeks after heavy rain and a burst water pipe caused a ‘major landslide’ which collapsed a roadside bank and left around 700 nearby residents without water for approximately two hours.

The road forms part of a renewable energy developer’s suggested route for transporting constriction materials to a proposed wind farm site at Wainfleet.

Opponents have previously claimed this route is unsuitable due to its likelihood of collapse beneath the weight of heavy vehicles and now feel their beliefs have been vindicated.

Wainfleet Wind Turbine Action Group’s Melvin Grosvenor said: “This confirms what we have been saying all along – that any additional use will compromise that road and so the site is unsuitable for a wind farm.”

East Lindsey District Council’s Eastville ward holder Coun Victoria Ayling also believes the collapse raises questions about the route’s suitability.

She said: “The repairs are essential as without them there would be serious safety issues but it does beg the question about the appropriateness of a wind farm in this area.”

Lincolnshire County Council, which maintains the road said it hoped to have it back open in the next two weeks after carrying out repairs to the tarmac and the river bank supporting it.

As a planning consultee on the wind farm application, principal highways officer Cliff Vivian has asked the developer to upgrade roads to the site between the A16 and A52, if the plans are approved.

Anglian Water has apologised to customers left without water for the inconvenience.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/03/wind-farm-opponents-claim-eastville-road-collapse-proves-wainfleet-proposal-is-unsuitable/