February 6, 2014
England

Parish people power set to oppose wind turbine plans

Retford Times | February 06, 2014 | www.retfordtimes.co.uk

Trentside villagers have joined forces in a bid to blow away persistant plans from big companies for wind farms near their homes.

Parish councils surrounding two potential wind farms at Cottam and Sturton say enough is enough and teamed up to oppose proposals they say will permanently damage the rural landscape.

They have formed the The Association of Trentside Parish Councils to tackle the issue.

“For several years now, well financed and determined attempts have been made to implant large industrial size wind farms upon what remains of our fragile but much loved local landscape,” said the association’s chair, Brian Marchant.

“After thorough, timely and careful research we know that local residents wholeheartedly demand their parish councils should actively resist the imposition of wind farms, because of the damage they cause to local landscapes, and may well cause to health and property values.”

Mr Marchant said such resistence demands “huge resources” of volunteer time from residents, high quality professional advice and plenty of money, hence the forrmation of the association.

The group comprises North and South Wheatley, Sturton-le-Steeple, North Leverton with Habblesthorpe, South Leverton and Treswell with Cottam councils.

And the main battle ground focuses on what the association calls two main and active threats at Cottam and Maumhill, near Sturton.

“Pro-Wind, a German developer, had a 12-wind turbine application turned down on appeal by the national Planning Inspectorate, following a demonstration of widespread public anger and refusal by Bassetlaw Planning Committee,” said the association’s clerk, Dave Langmead.

“Pro Wind UK, a new subsidiary, has submitted an application for three turbines on the same site. When this is considered by committee, it will be most strenuously opposed by the parish councils.

“The Maumhill application was made two years ago by EDF Renewables.

“(It included) nine large turbines glowering above our villages, most homes being within a two-mile radius of the nearest turbine.

“It was very energetically and effectively resisted by many residents, and ourselves, and subsequently refused planning permission by Bassetlaw.”

The energy company had requested that the Planning Inspector consider its latest revisions, including a reduction of turbines to seven, as part of an appeal against the council’s refusal.

But it was confirmed this week that the request has been declined, meaning the company was forced to withdraw the current appeal and submit a new planning application.

Darren Cuming, EDF Energy Renewables’ development manager for the project, said: “Naturally, we are very disappointed that we will be unable to proceed with the planning appeal.

“We believed that the latest changes would have further reduced any environmental impact of the scheme and would still have been capable of making an important contribution to meeting the country’s future low carbon energy needs and the government’s renewable energy targets.

“We take the utmost care with our site selection and, after due consideration, will now be drawing up new plans that can be resubmitted to the council.

“As with any of our projects we will consult the local public on our new plans. We’d encourage as many people as possible to attend our public exhibitions and to take part in the consultation which will be held once we’ve published our new proposals.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/06/parish-people-power-set-to-oppose-wind-turbine-plans/