April 9, 2013
England

Residents say ‘no’ to windfarm substation

Sleaford Standard | 9 April 2013 | www.sleafordstandard.co.uk

There was standing room only as villagers turned out in force to have their views heard over a possible substation development in the area.

The Hale Magna Hall in Great Hale was packed for an extraordinary meeting by the parish council in light of the residents’ concerns about RWE NPower Renewables’ plan to build a substation, linking the Triton Knoll Offshore Wind Farm to the National Grid at one of four possible local sites – one at Great Hale Fen, two at Bicker Fen and one near Swineshead.

The meeting on Wednesday night was attended by residents of Great and Little Hale and Heckington, with the hall becoming so full that guests were forced to stand at the back and in the bar 
area.

John Mountain, who lives in the area, said: “It will be a complete abomination on our landscape. We are farmers, we live out here in the Fens because we are stewards of the land, and I hope to hand the farm over to the next generation in a better state, but if this happens, I can’t say to my son ‘I let this happen’.

“RWE have the nerve to say that there will be no adverse affect on the landscape. The land down on the Fens is great and if they think there will be no adverse affect then they are wrong.”

Villager Ray Kemmett also spoke at the meeting and described his worries for the impact on the nearby roads: “The access road from the A17 is a single carriageway, imagine the impact of lorries on that and on the main A17.”

Another resident added: “Apparently Lincolnshire has some of the best land for growing, and they are going to take it away from us.”

Councillor Richard Higgs, of Heckington Parish Council, added: “This is so big a project that it will affect not only Great Hale but Heckington too, and as a parish council we are totally against it.”

Great Hale Parish Council voted unanimously to oppose the plans.

RWE NPower Renewables will be holding a consultation event at Hale Magna Hall between 11am and 4pm on Saturday for residents to make their voices heard and for more information.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/09/residents-say-no-to-windfarm-substation/