Saturday 11 December 2010

SHOCK HORROR for PENKRIDGE

RODBASTON WINDFARM GETS GO AHEAD – BAD NEWS FOR PENKRIDGE PEOPLE
An application for Two very large 126 metre (415 feet)  high Wind Turbines have been given the go ahead by a Planning Inspector after an appeal was made after South Staffs. Council turned down the application.
This now means that these two Wind Turbines will be built on the Rodbaston Estate very close to the M6 Motorway, the Canal, and within 1 Km of the ancient heronry at Gailey (putting the herons at high risk of collision and death), within 1 Km of the local Microlight airstrip at Pillaton (again meaning a risk to pilots), and within 1Km of the housing estates to the south end of the town of Penkridge, housing between 8 and 9,000 people, with all the problems that turbines bring to an area, particularly the de-valuing of local property,  possible health risks and no benefits.
This is a big precedent and it is fully expected  there will now be more applications in this area of urban South Staffordshire from industrial sites, large industrial farm units, etc. 
 And I haven’t mentioned the bats – several species (all protected by law) which will be affected and be at risk.   Oh!, and a public right of way goes between the two turbines.    A new road has also to be built on agricultural land to access the site and one of the turbines is to be sited on ancient peat bog.    How green is all this?   And all in the Green Belt too.
Although the Officers of the Council recommended approval, the Councillors of the Planning Authority listened to local people and turned the application down even though a couple of local councillors were prevented from voting because of a non-pecuniary interest .   They therefore could not properly represent the views of their constituents.
If you log on to http://www.epaw.org/multimedia.php?article=news11    you will see a FILM of the views of people living near existing or planned wind farm developments.  Their objections have been dismissed by the wind industry, government and pro-wind campaigners as selfish NIMBYism, leaving unanswered many questions about the reliability and environmental credentials of wind energy.  For full information on the negative effects of windfarms go to:  http://www.iberica2000.org/Es/Articulo.asp?Id=1228

1 comment:

Unknown said...

This is bad news for Penkridge!

Steph
Buxtons