December 14, 2012
England

MP Ed Leigh speaks out against wind farm

Gainsborough Standard | 14 December 2012 | www.gainsboroughstandard.co.uk

Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh has questioned the company behind the proposal to construct 10 new wind turbines near Hemswell Cliff.

Back in July, RWE Npower Renewables submitted the application to build the farm on land 13km east of Gainsborough after months of suitability and consultation.

The Hemswell wind farm would stand up to 126.5m tall and would be capable of generating up to 25 megawatts of electricity – enough to meet the average annual consumption of 11,600 homes.

As well as stressing his continued opposition to the proposal, Mr Leigh says has asked the Chief Executive of RWE Npower Renewables for assurances that they will never build any electricity pylons in order to connect the turbines to the National Grid.

“It is often the case that after wind farms have been approved that people living near them discover that they are also to have huge electricity pylons built near them in order to take the electricity away,” said Mr Leigh.

“I have always been clear that I am totally opposed to these turbines because of the impact they will have on people living nearby, but I want to make sure that if these turbines do go ahead then local residents aren’t hit by the double whammy of electricity pylons as well.”

He continued: “I have therefore written to the Chief Executive of RWE Npower in order to seek his assurance that he will under no circumstances alter or add to his proposal to include electricity pylons.”

Mr Leigh added: “When it comes to building almost on top of people’s homes, if there’s one thing worse than having a wind farm, it’s having a wind farm and high voltage power lines. I want to make sure that neither go ahead.”

The application also includes a permanent and temporary mast, substation and control building, a temporary construction compound, construction of underground electrical cabling and new access tracks and upgrade of existing access tracks, site access points from the A15 and Middle Street for a period of 25 years.

The planning application is available to view on the WLDC website at www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building/view-applications-decisions-and-appeals/

For more detail on the proposals go to www.npower-renewables.com/hemswellcliff


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/12/14/mp-ed-leigh-speaks-out-against-wind-farm/