February 3, 2014
England

Unpopular proposals withdrawn

Advertiser & Review | 02 February 2014 | www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk

Unpopular proposals to build eight wind turbines in the Tove Valley, to the south-east of Towcester, have been withdrawn.

Gamesa Energy UK has walked away from the scheme which would have seen 123m-high turbines and their associated infrastructure built in the valley.

Tove Action Group, set up to fight against the plans, has welcomed the news.

Chairman Melanie Henwood said: “This ends a lengthy period of worry and uncertainty for thousands of local people, and at last we can move on without this hanging over us. We hope that the fact that Gamesa concluded from their review that ‘the project is not feasible’ will also mean other developers do not now think they can try to move into the valley.”

In a ‘scoping document’ submitted to South Northants Council in December 2010, Gamesa set out proposals for the Tove Renewable Energy Park, surrounded by the A5 and the villages of Alderton, Heathencote and Paulerspury.

South Northants MP Andrea Leadsom said: “I congratulate local residents on their determined campaign to oppose this development, which was completely unwelcome.”

She added: “In their letter to me Gamesa do not elaborate on why they have decided this is not a feasible project but I hope that the recent reductions in Government subsidies will have contributed to the decision not to proceed with a planning application.”

The news comes on the back of last year’s High Court decision to refuse permission for a five-turbine development between Helmdon and Greatworth. The application is currently being considered by a planning inspector, who will make a decision at the end of May.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/03/unpopular-proposals-withdrawn/