June 12, 2015
England

‘Residents and visitors are saying enough is enough’

Grimsby Telegraph | June 12, 2015 | www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk

Villagers campaigning to stop a wind farm being built claim they are already affected by other wind farms nearby.

East Lindsey council planners unanimously voted to refuse the application for seven turbines at Fulstow.

But because the council failed to determine the application with 16 weeks, the final decision will now be made through the secretary of state.

Energiekontor Ltd wants to build the 115m turbines close to the A1031 coast road near North Thoresby, close to Louth Canal and the villages of Fulstow and Covenham.

The villages are also near the existing 21-turbine wind farm at Conisholme.

It is the latest in a raft of different bids to construct various wind farms.

Eight more turbines could be built at Bishopthorpe Farm near Tetney after another appeal was granted by the Secretary of State.

A separate application for three turbines at Louth Canal was rejected recently due to the impact on the landscape.

Mary Simons, who has lived in Fulstow for 35 years, said: “Our biggest concern is we are going to be surrounded by wind farms and Fulstow will lose its identity.

“The beauty of the village is its starkness in summer and winter and its uninterrupted vista.

“We often catch sighting of ships on the Humber – it is a very special sight. More wind farms would ruin the beauty of this landscape.”

Councillor John Kelly, vice-chairman of Covenham Parish Council, said that together with the wind farm at Conisholme, this latest plan would create a half-circle of wind farms around the village.

He said: “East Lindsey has already delivered its share to help the carbon footprint and now residents and visitors are saying enough is enough.”

Councillor Siobhan Weller, Holton-le-Clay and North Thoresby councillor, fears building yet more wind farms could affect tourism.

She said: “They are putting a risk on local economies and jobs that rely on people coming here.

“Lincolnshire does have a commitment to renewable energy and East Lindsey District Council has more than committed to this now.”

The council unanimously refused it on grounds of the significant harm to the landscape as well as the harmful impact on heritage assets nearby including Louth Canal and Thoresby Bridge warehouse.

Speaking about the refusal of the new plans, Tetney Councillor Stuart Watson said: “The cumulative effect is totally unacceptable. We are a tourist area and people come here to enjoy the open vista.

“Anymore wind farms would destroy that and turn it into an industrial area.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/06/12/residents-and-visitors-are-saying-enough-is-enough/