February 13, 2014
England

Berry Fen Wind Farm campaign heightens

Written byJ ORDAN DAY | Ely Weekly News | 12 February 2014 | www.ely-news.co.uk

Campaigners fighting plans for a mini wind farm on the outskirts of Ely have launched a fundraising campaign to help pay for their protest.

Hundreds of residents are now throwing their weight behind the Stop Berry Fen Wind Farm campaign and the group has elected a formal committee to co-ordinate their battle.

The group plans to organise protests and utilise experts to help with their fight, and as a result a fundraising campaign has been set up where residents, businesses and organisations can donate.

As previously reported, REG Windpower, which has numerous wind farms in the area, wants to build four wind turbines at Berry Fen – land in between the villages of Haddenham and Aldreth.

The height of each turbine would be 130m if the scheme is approved.

REG Windpower says the new turbines could provide enough renewable energy to power approximately 4,500 homes.

Bosses are also proposing to set up a community fund worth £36,000 a year to support local charities and community projects.

But protestors say the turbines will “destroy the peace and tranquility” of the area, “wreak havoc” on local wildlife and have a detrimental impact on local property prices.

Jon Sanford, a spokesman for the campaign group, said: “We need to fight as hard as we can to stop this act of industrial vandalism near our villages.

“This will be a long and difficult fight against REG, who have access to funds and a great deal of experience in obtaining planning permission for turbines.

“However, the number of successful objections to wind turbines are rising significantly as local communities have much more of a say on their local environment and we are determined to stop our special part of the world being blighted.

“We urge locals to pull together, help us raise the necessary funds to fight this proposal and we will give our all to stop this.”

A screening opinion for the scheme has been submitted to East Cambridgeshire District Council and it is they who have the final say.

To get involved with the campaign, visit www.stopberryfenwindfarm.org.uk.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/13/berry-fen-wind-farm-campaign-heightens/