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Proposed Haverhill wind turbine will ‘take money from the poor’ says county councillor
Credit: Written byDEBRA FOX | Haverhill Weekly News | 22 August 2013 | www.cambridge-news.co.uk ~~
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A UKIP councillor has joined the fight against a wind turbine being built on farmland outside Haverhill.
The controversial application, which was first entered by farmer James Sills in February this year, has received more than 30 objections from nearby residents, neighbouring parish councils and the National Air Traffic Services (NATS).
He hopes to build a 78m high turbine at Nosterfield End, as well as a substation, hardstanding and access track.
Cllr Julian Flood, who holds one of the county seats for Haverhill Cangle ward has branded the proposal a way to “move money from the poor to the rich”.
At Haverhill Town Council’s planning committee meeting, held on Tuesday, August 20, he said: “They must minimalise waste and maximise low carbon development. The application does not show either of those things.
“They stop working when the wind doesn’t blow and they make energy so expensive that elderly people in this country die of hypothermia because they can’t afford their energy bills.”
NATS said in their response that the turbine could potentially have an affect on radars from Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted which could force planes to go off course.
They concluded that the risk was too serious and possible to ignore.
Concerns have also been put forward about the visual impact of the turbine for the surrounding homes and buildings and the noise pollution it will create.
Cllr Betty McLatchy said that the number of complaints from those living nearby the site show that the turbine could “put off” potential investors from moving to the area if it is built.
The proposed site itself is surrounded by listed buildings – though no objection has been made by English Heritage.
Town Mayor Cllr Roger Andre said that these buildings cannot be ignored simply because they aren’t directly on the site.
He said: “The will have their views affected by this mast. They think they can escape by not building in the grounds of the listed buildings.
“They have to prove the benefit to the community, and the application states that the benefit to local people is marginal at best.”
The plan was last put to the town council in April, when they raised a number of objections to be dealt with, including further consultation with the public.
The council’s planning committee also asked that a number of technical questions relating to the measurements of the turbine be addressed to aid the decision-making process.
None of them have been responded to.
Town councillor Clive Turner said: “We will for our existing objections that haven’t been addressed to stand and we will further support Cllr Flood’s objections.”
The final decision on the turbine will be made by St Edmundsbury Borough Council at a later date.
In May this year, they granted Mr Sills permission to build a 78m wind turbine at Chilton Street, in Clare.
To view the full plans visit www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk
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