December 14, 2014
England

Residents worry Bicker Fen power link set to devastate environment

Boston Target | December 14, 2014 | www.bostontarget.co.uk

Residents worried about a controversial plan to import electricity from Denmark have contacted their MEP for help.

Plans have been drafted by RWE Innogy to connect the so-called Viking Link, from Denmark through undersea cables and then across Lincolnshire to a sub-station at the Bicker Fen wind farm.

An estimated 200 landowners would be affected on the route between Anderby Creek and Bicker Fen, a wind farm near the village of Bicker. It comes at the same time developers are seeking to build and connect the billion pound offshore Triton Knoll wind farm to the National Grid at the Bicker Fen site.

John Bowler, a concerned householder who is acting on behalf of residents in the affected area, said there would be extensive environmental damage across Lincolnshire and at Bicker Fen.

He said: “The sub-station on the fen will cover about 150 acres of prime agricultural land. The Viking Link has had no discussion or consultation anywhere.”

He said that, as well as the existing Bicker Fen site, there were already plans for wind turbines at nearby Heckington.

“All the new projects will be constructed at the same time, causing total devastation to this area and changing the character from agricultural to industrial,” he said. “In all cases, alternative brownfield sites are available.”

Roger Helmer, UKIP MEP and the party’s energy spokesman, has been contacted by Mr Bowler for help.

Now Mr Helmer has written to the chief executives of Ofcom and the National Grid.

Mr Helmer said: “These residents have already had a large wind farm imposed in the teeth of their protests, and have consequently suffered all the problems of an industrialised landscape, visual intrusion, excessive lorry movements during the construction phase, and of course the well-documented health impacts of wind turbines located close to homes.

“They are now horrified to find they face a new threat, from the proposed Viking Link from Denmark, which apparently is scheduled to come right through the same area.”

A spokesman for the National Grid said the Viking Link project is still in its early stages.

“We have a great deal of assessment work to undertake,” he said.

“We will be working with many organisations and groups, including local communities, local authorities and other bodies to help us shape our proposals.

“No decisions will be taken until detailed studies and consultation have been carried out.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/12/14/residents-worry-bicker-fen-power-link-set-to-devastate-environment/