June 6, 2013
England

Lincolnshire County Council welcomes powers to block wind farms

Louth Leader | 06/06/2013 | www.louthleader.co.uk

Lincolnshire County Council has welcomed the government’s new measures to give local communities the power to block wind farms.

Ministers have today unveiled new planning rules that mean residents will have to be consulted on proposed developments, which can now be blocked if there is significant local opposition.

The new rules also take into account the impact on the natural and historic environment, as well as the cumulative effect of wind turbines.

Coun Colin Davie, executive member for the environment, said: “We welcome any proposals that give local people a greater say on developments in their community. Hopefully, these changes will put a stop to wind farms going ahead against local wishes.

“We suspect that here in Lincolnshire very few communities will be swayed by ‘incentives’ from energy companies. That should help bring a halt to the unrestrained invasion of wind farms across the county – something local people have been calling for.

“This will make sure that our beautiful and historic landscape isn’t decimated for what appears to be very limited gain, bringing a better balance between our need for green energy and inappropriate developments that ruin the very environment we’re trying to protect.

“However, we now need the Government to practice what they preach. An ideal test case will be the proposed development in Orby. The county, district and parish councils, alongside the local community, have objected to development on this site for a decade. Hopefully, these new measures will help to stop it going ahead.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/06/lincolnshire-county-council-welcomes-powers-to-block-wind-farms/