Residents say a resounding 'no' to turbine plans
By Retford Times | Thursday, January 26, 2012, 06:50
VILLAGERS are "dead against" plans to build a nine turbine wind farm near Sturton, according to objectors.
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EDF Energy Renewables (EDF ER) wants permission to build the turbines, which will stand at 115 metres (377 feet) tall each, on agricultural land surrounding Maumhill Wood.
The application follows various consultation exercises carried out by the company in villages around the proposed site.
Dave Langmead, clerk to three parish councils affected by the proposals, says the message is a resounding "no" to the plans.
"From the surveys we have conducted among our residents, the answer is very clear – they are dead against it," he said.
"We're not NIMBYS (not in my back yard); we're just saying our back yard is already full.
"Once the gas-fired plant at West Burton is on line, we'll be close to producing ten percent of the country's electricity just in this small area – we are doing our bit. We don't want or need a wind farm."
And Ted Pasley of pressure group Wheatley Energy Forum agreed, describing the proposed turbines as "monsters".
"The possible erection of these 115 metre-high monsters has provoked considerable outrage and resentment among the residents of Sturton, North Leverton and Wheatley villages," he said.
Mr Pasley said the forum is planning to display the proposals to residents ahead of the deadline for individual objection on February 8.
The first session is at Wheatley Village Hall on Thursday, February 2, at 4pm to 7pm and the following day at the same time at Sturton Village Hall.
The applicants themselves held a number of consultation events in the summer and amended their original plans – for ten, 125-metre tall turbines – after concerns from exhibition visitors.
"We believe the final proposal offers a balance between the concerns of those residents living closest to the site and the widely recognised need for new low carbon energy sources to help meet the challenge of climate change, diminishing fossil fuel reserves and other future energy supply problems," EDF ER said in its application literature.
It added that the anticipated electrical output of the site would be enough to power 10,000 homes.
The wind farm would have a 25-year lifetime, after which the turbines would be decommissioned and removed.
Comments
Hear hear.
By Wizz1976 at 11:50 on 23/02/12
ReportIts time we stopped letting a few individuals dictate where the country is going to get its power from in the future. Coal and oil fired power stations are a thing of the past not only due to the price of the raw materials needed to fuel such systems but also the Co2 emissions they produce. Nuclear is not the answer either due to the enormous damage that can occur when accidents happen , be they man made or a freak of nature, and the enormous and as yet still ignored cost of decommissioning ( which is always conveniently overlooked by the nuclear lobby. )
As usual the only reason the naysayers have for fighting against the installation of wind turbines is that they will be able to see them from their houses. This selfish and out-dated attitude is typical of the wealthier element of our society who couldn't care less about the environment or future power needs and are only concerned about the effect it will have on what amounts to a handful of landowners and country cottage dwellers.
my advice is that they have their houses bought off them under a compulsory purchase deal and that they be sold at a reduced price to people who can only dream of living in such a pleasant setting and are not going to get on their high horse at the mention of wind turbines. =0)
They claim they are not nimbys yet put forward no realistic objection based on any other grounds nor any suggestions as to where or how we should generate the country's future power needs.
yours, for and on behalf of the environment and the majority,
dean bell.
By toxicpop at 13:45 on 26/01/12
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