Residents' joy as fight against wind farm plans is won ... again
JUBILANT protestors were celebrating last night as plans for a six-turbine wind farm were refused by councillors.
About 200 Burton residents packed into Pittwood House for yesterday's planning committee meeting and heard plans for The Grange Wind Farm project thrown out by North Lincolnshire Council's planning committee.
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BLOWN OUT: Steve Fuller, of Burton Against Turbines, shows his feelings as North Lincolnshire Council block plans for the Grange Wind Farm development at Flixborough Grange.
The proposed site at Flixborough Grange, near Burton- Upon-Stather, had already been subjected to two previous rejected applications, one of which was also turned down by a Government planning inspector after a public inquiry.
After the meeting, Steve Fuller, of Burton Against Turbines, said: "The strength of feeling is tremendous.
"Planning is always a local issue and people made their feelings known.
"We will continue to defend ourselves and defend the community that we represent."
The latest decision came after more than 400 letters of objection were received by the council, with just five letters in speaking out in support of the scheme.
Burton and Winterton ward councillor Bernard Regan told the meeting: "I am astonished we are even looking at this again, as we have proven twice that this is not a good thing for the community or for North Lincolnshire.
"It calls into question the whole issue of democracy where planning is concerned.
"The developer can come back time and time again and chip away at the objections, but there is no such redress on the part of the objectors."
Councillor Regan argued the potential loss of visual amenity associated with the development would not be outweighed by its benefits in terms of generating electricity.
The Burton Against Turbines protest group was also represented at the meeting, with speakers on the health risks, loss of visual amenity and the noise pollution they believe would have come from the wind farm.
But speaking in support of the plans, Ben Moore, of developers RidgeWind, said the company's nearby Bagmoor wind farm had already provided several benefits for residents of Dragonby.
Mr Moore also said the firm had come to an agreement with a family who last year's public inquiry found would have suffered a detrimental effect on their health and wellbeing if the turbines at Flixborough Grange were built.
RidgeWind director Nigel Goodhew said the company would consider its next move when the council's reasons for refusal are announced.
He said: "We are obviously very disappointed.
"We have worked hard to address the reason for refusal from the inquiry and we are considering our options."
Exact reasons for council's refusal were deferred until a later date.
11 Comments
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by Russell Davison, Basel, Switzerland
Wednesday, March 02 2011, 12:01PM
“Congatulations to Steve Fuller on his hard fought campaign. The damage caused to human health by the low frequency noise is now a cause for concern in every developed nation. Steve Fuller should be given the keys to the town of Scunthorpe for his determination to defend the rights of the people of Scunthorpe.
http://russelldavison.com”
by Scunny, Scunthorpe
Friday, February 11 2011, 12:25AM
“@Chrisj, You forgot to add that the ecowarriors should also pay a rate for their wind generated power that will cover the huge subsidies that aero generators receive now.”
by Chrisj, Obviously another planet
Thursday, February 10 2011, 9:57PM
“Nil Points
'give them the option windfarm and electricity or no windfarm no electricity & see their true colours'
To be realistic if they had to rely on a windfarm there wouldn't be any electricity any way. It would be nice if we could let all the windfarm zealots be connected directly to those wonderful wind turbines, without the benefit of those nasty conventional fossil fuel stations and see how quickly they change their minds about the environmental benefits of clean wind energy.”
by dave, burton
Thursday, February 10 2011, 8:00PM
“Rigewind ant finished yet”
by Fooled again, scunny
Thursday, February 10 2011, 6:18PM
“Gotcha, while you've all been busy with the flixboro' windfarm, they're building one on the other bank at keadby”
by Nil points, Wading across the Humber.
Thursday, February 10 2011, 5:24PM
“More back yard yellowbellies who only consider themselves, give them the option windfarm and electricity or no windfarm no electricity & see their true colours.”
by arteus1946, brigg
Thursday, February 10 2011, 4:51PM
“all coal,gas and nuclear plants are heading towards decommissioning,having almost reached the end of their useful lives.Many are running on a wing and a prayer. It takes years to construct replacements-thats if we have the expertise to do it now. Still we can rely on the Russians, Iranians and the good old French to supply our energy needs in future. Theres always solar (photovoltaic panels) -Hitachi in Wrexham ,Wales have just taken on an extra 300 staff to meet demand at their factory. Germany and Sweden are investing in Domestic Solar Systems heavily - do they know something we don't or do they do things instead of talking about do them? Wait whilst the lights go out and then see the moans.”
by Old Burtonian, Hinckley Point
Thursday, February 10 2011, 4:12PM
“Doh ... It can't carry on coming from the same place it does now can it ?”
by Casual Observer, In the council chamber
Thursday, February 10 2011, 12:22PM
“So Cllr. Regan has come to the conclusion the present planning rules call into question the whole issue of democracy. Just a pity it took an issue in his own backyard to bring home to him the inequitable manner of our present planning rules and regulations.”
by Chris, Scunny
Thursday, February 10 2011, 11:22AM
“Well their electricity won't come from a wind farm that's for sure because they won't be building it for a start and then the things don't produce enough electricity to power a torch if the wind isn't blowing so i would say their electricity will be coming from the same place as it is now wouldn't you.
Well done to all the Burton residents a very good result. No one want's these things on their doorsteps so if these companys want to waste money on something that doesn't work they should be made to build them offshore where they belong. I don't know if anyone else has been hearing the rumours but the 36 turbine one at Keadby has come to a halt, something to do with funding so i've been told, the bank of Ireland has pulled the plug because of the current financial problems in Ireland. I guess we will all have to stick with the good old powerstations to produce our electricity, at least when the wind doesn't blow we won't all be sat in the dark.”