March 29, 2013
England

Residents launch fight against wind farm

Sleaford Standard | March 29, 2013 | www.sleafordstandard.co.uk

Residents and landowners are launching their own campaign against plans to site a 47 acre electricity substation the size of 30 football pitches in their parish.

Residents of Great Hale Fen have been shocked to learn that RWE Npower are in the final stages of putting together development plans to build a 49 foot high, electrical substation on one of four possible sites on their doorstep.

It was only on January 28 that even the local landowners found out about the proposals. Matt Mountain, one of the affected farmers whose grade 1 agricultural land one of the sites is on, is particularly disappointed about the plans.

He said they are worried about the environmental and visual aspect of the large substation to connect the Triton Knoll offshore wind farm to the National Grid.

The residents are particularly upset about the standard of the consultation process that RWE Npower has conducted with the locals and affected stakeholders.

Mr Mountain continues: “We are one of the joint landowners and have only 
just found out about these plans.”

The local residents also pointed to an independent Water Vole Survey authorised by the Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board which reveals at least 29 species are in this catchment area.

Three live badger sets, deer, bat and owl populations have moved into the area following successful environmental schemes run by local farmers in this specific area over the last ten years.

“All of our hard work to restore the natural environment will be undone when construction begins,” says John Mountain, Matt’s father and local farmer for over 45 years.

Whichever site is chosen will fall under a compulsory purchase scheme. The cut-off date for representations is April 5.

The form can be found on the Triton Knoll website.

An emergency surgery with MP Stephen Phillips was scheduled for last Friday, after which the residents hoped he would also write to RWE Npower, the National Grid and the Secretary of State.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/29/residents-launch-fight-against-wind-farm/