March 12, 2013
England

Kimbolton wind farm develops launch new plan

Written by JULIAN MAKEY | News & Crier | 12 March 2013 | www.cambridge-news.co.uk

Wind farm protesters in Kimbolton are gearing up for a new fight against plans to build turbines near village.

Broadview Energy has just unveiled its revised plan for the Bicton Wind Farm which attracted almost universal opposition in its original guise and was rejected by a planning appeal inspector.

The new scheme involves repositioning the proposed 410ft turbines on the Bicton site and reducing their number from four to three.

Villagers living near the site raised more than £50,000 to battle the original plans and are set to oppose the new scheme.

Amy Howard, from Stop Bicton Wind Farm, said the original plan had been opposed by hundreds of local residents, councils, MPs and the appeal inspector who ruled against it.

Ms Howard said the inspector concluded that the original scheme had too great an impact on the Kimbolton valley area.

She said Huntingdonshire District Council’s strategy for one wind farm in that part of the district had been met by the approval of the site at Woolley Hill.

Ms Howard said the revised plan would make little difference to the appearance of the wind farm and that the turbines would be placed on the top of the nearby ridge.

She said that Broadview’s pursuit of the site indicated the amount of money behind wind farms and that the local community, from residents through to councils, was also facing enormous costs as a result.

“It is just unbelievable, the expense, especially in these times of recession,” Ms Howard said.

Residents have been invited to meet Broadview at the Mandeville Hall, Kimbolton, on 26 March from 5pm-8pm, to discuss the new plan.

The firm has been working on developing the site since 2008 and has revised its plan after assessing the key findings in the planning inspector’s report.

Tim Cosgrove, project manager, said: “We have taken the time to analyse the inspector’s report and seek advice from a range of independent experts which has led to the decision to redesign the proposed wind farm.

“We have reduced the number of turbines from four to three and relocated them to positions that are more sympathetic to both the local environment and the requirements of local planning policy.”

Mr Cosgrove said: “We hope that members of the local community will take the opportunity to come and find out more on 26 March.”

Broadview said that in addition to seeing the new plan, residents would also be able to learn more at the meeting about the contribution wind energy could make towards tackling climate change and energy security in the UK.

Members of the Broadview team would also be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the proposed scheme.