March 19, 2016
England

Residents object to plan to lengthen wind turbine blades (that are already as long as a footy pitch)

By Lincolnshire Echo | Posted: March 18, 2016 | www.sleafordtarget.co.uk

Hundreds of campaigners who claim they were denied their say on controversial plans to upgrade “the largest wind farm in Lincolnshire” have now been told the Government will consider their objections.

Power firm Ecotricity submitted plans for 22 turbines at East Heckington Fen in 2013 which were approved by the government. But earlier this year the company wanted to increase the diameter of the blades – which are already the length of a football pitch.

Another consultation was held and closed in February but residents claimed they did not know about it.

Melvin Grosvenor, from the new campaign group Heck Off, said 261 people wanted to have their say on the development and their responses were submitted to the government.

He said: “Heck Off have submitted a substantial objection to the Department for Energy and Climate Change and it has said it will take all submissions into account.

“The government are listening to us so are taking on the communities concerns. There were 261 objections that went in with the letter from the local communities and we will have more objections coming in over the next week or two.”

The wind farm had permission for wind turbines of 90 metres in diameter but the company wants to increase the blade to 103 metres in diameter. The distance off the ground will be 22 metres.

Mr Grosvenor, who has previously dubbed the development “the biggest wind farm in Lincolnshire”, added people mainly complained about the noise impact.

He said: “If we hadn’t done what we have been doing the next thing the communities would have seen is the turbines appearing.

“These builds are bigger than the Bicker Fen turbines and these can be seen from Horncastle.”

One resident in Heckington was pleased to hear that the government was listening to the communities.

Gerry Jannetta said: “The government should listen to local residents.

“We have already got a wind farm not far away at Bicker. I don’t think I’ll be affected by this new one but it may have a visual impact.”

Another resident, Steve Mchugh, 53, also from Heckington, said: “Something as big as that should be considered by people living locally – they should have the opportunity to have their say.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/03/19/residents-object-to-plan-to-lengthen-wind-turbine-blades-that-are-already-as-long-as-a-footy-pitch/