Billingborough wind turbine scheme is abandoned

Credit: The Local | 21 February 2014 | www.bournelocal.co.uk ~~

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Plans to build a wind farm on Crown Estate land in Billingborough have been abandoned for “commercial reasons”.

Electricity company E.on’s 2009 proposals to install 17 wind turbines on land close to the villages of Billingborough and Horbling had come under fire from residents.

A campaign group Billingborough and Horbling Against Turbines was formed to oppose the scheme.

Yesterday the group claimed victory and said members were feeling “considerable relief” after the Crown Estate said it was not pursuing the proposal.

The campaign group said the factors affecting the decision to abandon the plans would have included “organised local opposition”.

A spokesman said: “For all those who opposed this very large industrial development close to two very rural villages, this is very good news.”

A spokesman for the Crown Estate, however, said: “Our estate management decisions are based primarily on commercial factors and, having undertaken an estate wide review, we believe it is in our best commercial interest not to pursue the proposal.

“We believe we can derive best overall value from our Billingborough Estate by focusing on its agricultural element.”

The proposals came to light in September 2010 when E.on held a public exhibition outlining the plans.

The turbines would have been 410 feet high and would have had the potential to provide 36,000 homes with electricity. No planning application was ever submitted though.

When the proposals came to light, chairman of the campaign group Sarah Ormrod had said: “The impact of this thing won’t just be a mile away, it will be a big visual impact and environmental impact for miles around.”

The campaign group said the turbines would have been 410 feet high compared to the landmark spire of Billingborough’s St. Andrew’s Church, which  is only 150 feet.

E.on’s turbines would have dominated the historic fenscape for tens of kilometres around, the campaigners said.

South Kesteven District Council said their planners had not been made aware of the proposal being shelved.

It said E.on submitted a “scoping opinion request in 2009” but that there were currently no “live planning applications for wind turbines” in Billingborough and Horbling.

Source: The Local | 21 February 2014 | www.bournelocal.co.uk

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