September 27, 2017
England

‘Dismay’ at Big Field Wind Farm company’s legal action

Tuesday, 26 September 2017 By The Post | www.bude-today.co.uk/

North Cornwall’s Conservative MP said he is ‘dismayed’ that the company behind the rejected plans for the ‘Big Field Wind Farm’ near Week St Mary is seeking legal action.

Scott Mann MP said he has written to Good Energy asking it ‘to withdraw their legal action in the High Court’. Good Energy first submitted plans for 11 wind turbines at Creddacott Farm to Cornwall Council in 2014.

The plans were refused by the local authority with the developer then appealing this decision.

The appeal involved a public inquiry, which was held in Launceston between April and May 2016 where members of the public were able to submit statements in favour of or against the proposals.

This appeal was dismissed by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid on July 26 of this year.

Mr Mann said Good Energy has ‘applied to the High Court for judicial review to try and overturn the decision’.

Good Energy confirmed to the Post it is taking legal action, but said there would be no statement as proceedings are ongoing.

Mr Mann wrote to Juliet Davenport, chief executive officer of Good Energy Group plc, and said: “The proposed wind farm was opposed by a number of parish and town councils during the original planning process and it also received widespread opposition from local residents during both the original planning application process and the appeals process, and I would like to register my dismay on behalf of local communities that Good Energy is pursuing this proposal through the High Court, even though it has received a high level of objection from local people and official rejection by planning officials.

“In fact not only has this proposal been rejected by local people, local councils, Cornwall Council and the Planning Inspectorate, but it has also been rejected by the Communities and Local Government Secretary himself. I therefore find it astonishing and alarming that Good Energy is ignoring this – particularly the will of local people – and is pursuing the matter in the High Court.”

Asking for the decision to take legal action to be withdrawn, he added: “The people of Week St Mary and surrounding communities have made their views known on this matter, and I hope that Good Energy will respect that.”

Penny Mills from CPRE Devon, who campaigned strongly against the wind farm, said: “The proposed wind farm would have had an awful impact on the landscape, particularly the AONB, and the Inspector and The Secretary of State were quite correct to refuse permission because of that and also because it is clearly not a ‘community’ wind farm – the local community was totally against it.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2017/09/27/dismay-at-big-field-wind-farm-companys-legal-action/