Wind is taken out of turbine sails (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Delay in decision pleases campaigners
1:00pm Wednesday 9th February 2011 in Local By Scott D'Arcy
CAMPAIGNERS were able to breathe a sigh of relief as controversial proposals to build three 120 metre wind turbines were not given the go ahead last night.
Councillors on the Swindon Council planning committee voted seven against six for a motion to defer the application from Honda and sustainable energy firm Ecotricity for another month.
This will allow officers to provide more evidence in relation to the objections of ward councillors and residents.
Coun Dale Heenan (Con, Covingham and Nythe) proposed the motion to defer after hearing from representatives of Ecotricity, Honda and local residents.
He requested the council planning department produce a report setting out the legal grounds for refusal of the application.
“I don’t think we have the information to make a considered view,” he said.
Grant Macpherson, a director of Honda UK, said he hoped the application would be granted as it would help the firm achieve environmental targets.
He said: “The target for Honda in Swindon is a further reduction in CO2 emissions by 24 per cent by 2020. Some may say the application is controversial but all of us at some point are going to have to accept our responsibilities.”
Opposition to the plan has grown since it was announced last summer, with campaigners saying that each electricity-generating turbine would be almost the size of the 135m London Eye Ferris wheel.
Last night more than 100 people with ‘No’ placards gathered in the council chamber at the Civic Offices, in Euclid Street, to hear the decision.
Hazel Beaver, a South Marston resident and member of protest group Ill Wind, asked the committee to consider residents’ feeling against the proposal, saying: “Please recognise the strength of local opposition.
“We have got over 1,800 names on a petition and there have been nearly 400 personal letters sent to the planning department.
“We want Swindon Council to play safe with its residents’ health.”
Coun Russell Holland (Con, St Margaret) said that if the committee were to grant planning permission it would open the doors to other wind turbine applications.
He said: “You would be setting a precedent here. As long as you have conditions you can build them where ever you want.
“It’s wrong for Swindon and the recommendations are built on shaky conditions. The residents are clearly right.”
Comments(29)
newworldman
says...
2:08pm Wed 9 Feb 11
I live in the heart of South Marston and the closest turbine would be less than 600m from my house. Mine was one of the 1800 signatures and I also wrote one of the 400 letters of objection.
I am not a NIMBY, and would be happy if the turbines were smaller and further from the village, but these huge structures are completely inappropriate for the proposed location.
Robfm and I must move in different social circles, as I don't know any residents who DIDN'T sign the petition, such is the strength of feeling.
mwrmoore
says...
3:53pm Wed 9 Feb 11
Perhaps it would be useful for the 1800 signatories to suggest alternative locations for this infrastructure that could be deemed more appropriate within the borough.
At some point we have to find locations for devices such as these. Disused MOD sites, Business Parks and Industrial sites seem bar far the most suitible....
At least it wasn't an outright no is all i can say
The Real Librarian
says...
4:05pm Wed 9 Feb 11
.
I wouldn’t object to one being built near my home on aesthetic grounds, but I would object on the basis that they don’t work very well.
.
Windmills usually only produce about 18% of the electricity people claim they should. They are expensive and rubbish.
.
The last government in its total lack of wisdom decided to build tens of thousands of these things, at a cost of billions of pounds. Even if they were to succeed, which they won’t, the whole lot will produce less electricity than a couple of nuclear power stations.
.
Total waste of time.
AGINGER
says...
4:50pm Wed 9 Feb 11
EmmBee
says...
5:17pm Wed 9 Feb 11
EmmBee
says...
5:17pm Wed 9 Feb 11
Robfm
says...
6:22pm Wed 9 Feb 11
A reason why I asked fro a pdf to be published to the South Marston website. Not an unreasonable request.
Quite what the comment about sweeping water away had to do with anything is any-ones guess, other than the other illusion that Honda caused the flooding.
John Smith II
says...
6:54pm Wed 9 Feb 11
newworldman wrote:I don't wish to be controversial, but surely for someone to claim that they are not a 'NIMBY', having previously stated that they signed a petition against a development and wrote a letter of objection against that development would appear to be slightly contradictory!
I would suggest that Robfm is a little out of touch with the general mood in the village.
I live in the heart of South Marston and the closest turbine would be less than 600m from my house. Mine was one of the 1800 signatures and I also wrote one of the 400 letters of objection.
I am not a NIMBY, and would be happy if the turbines were smaller and further from the village, but these huge structures are completely inappropriate for the proposed location.
Robfm and I must move in different social circles, as I don't know any residents who DIDN'T sign the petition, such is the strength of feeling.
PaulD
says...
7:02pm Wed 9 Feb 11
The Real Librarian wrote:Windmills??
I quite like the look of windmills. They remind me of the best of Victorian engineering and architecture, when people designed things to look functional and beautiful.
.
I wouldn’t object to one being built near my home on aesthetic grounds, but I would object on the basis that they don’t work very well.
.
Windmills usually only produce about 18% of the electricity people claim they should. They are expensive and rubbish.
.
The last government in its total lack of wisdom decided to build tens of thousands of these things, at a cost of billions of pounds. Even if they were to succeed, which they won’t, the whole lot will produce less electricity than a couple of nuclear power stations.
.
Total waste of time.
Robfm
says...
7:03pm Wed 9 Feb 11
Phantom Poster
says...
7:23pm Wed 9 Feb 11
Robfm wrote:Oh cut the crap, you are already on record as saying that you are trying to get permission to put a wind turbine on your own land.
Perhaps Illwind would actually ask for the Petition to be uploaded as a PDF document on the South Marston website because frankly I have not yet spoken to a single resident who signed it. Most take the view that they are either harmless or given it's Government/EU policy they will ultimately get built.
I think what my fellow residents should also take account of, is what Honda does for Swindon, and South Marston. We pay just £5/year rent for the benefit of the allotments, and Honda have just released more land.
As I have previously said as far as South Marston is concerned my property will be exposed to the greatest view of these turbines, the close you get to the village the less you will see them if the blimp was a true indicator.
A quote from 18th Oct 2010:
"Actually as far as the turbines are concerned I plead guilty. I would love one, to make my electricity cheaper and in the process contribute to the national grid, to help everyone else."
.... oh you really are such a selfless person, always trying to help others!
As usual, all you care about is your own bottom-line. If Honda get planning permission then there's a better chance of you getting it.
newworldman
says...
7:48pm Wed 9 Feb 11
My objection to the development is predominantly against the size of the turbines and the proximity to the village. I was genuinely shocked at the scale when the blimp was flown near the proposed site.
The last government suggested in a white paper that turbines of this size should be sited at least 2000m from residential property for health and noise-polution reasons, but Honda want to build one only 400m from the nearest house. That's unacceptable.
I would not have objected to smaller turbines, like the ones at Watchfield being built a few hundred metres further away.
Robfm
says...
8:16pm Wed 9 Feb 11
I will not be objecting to Roves Farm application for a Solar Farm either, unlike some I am not against alternative energy provided the capital outlay doesn't fall on the tax payer.
Robfm
says...
8:37pm Wed 9 Feb 11
How Soon Is Now
says...
9:28pm Wed 9 Feb 11
Phantom Poster
says...
9:54pm Wed 9 Feb 11
Robfm wrote:I'm flattered that you consider myself and others as your nemeses (note correct spelling for plural), the definition of which is:
Phantom Poster, as one of my Nemisis I am not surprised by your comments, however I would just point out that I do not have the £2 million pounds required to erect a turbine, so the approval or otherwise of the Honda ones, makes little difference.
I will not be objecting to Roves Farm application for a Solar Farm either, unlike some I am not against alternative energy provided the capital outlay doesn't fall on the tax payer.
1. something that a person cannot conquer, achieve, etc.: The performance test proved to be my nemesis.
2. an opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.
... it's nice to see that for a change, in your own words, you are humbly admitting defeat!
AGINGER
says...
8:34am Thu 10 Feb 11
You WILL be paying for the generators but after they are built,via the subsidy paid to the owner.
Just 3 miles East of this proposed "Wind Farm" is another,it would be handy to know the true output from the site, and the subsidy the Government has paid so far,but that is the truth, and that hurts.
Come on villagers,get the Council to put an application in for a 120 metre monster and see what happens to that applicationguaranteed refusal I would bet.
Robfm
says...
9:23am Thu 10 Feb 11
Also where were the majority of villagers when just two of us, neither born and bred locals, later assisted by another newbee put together a flood relief plan, walking miles plotting where the problems really existed, only to be hampered by certain long standing villagers who refused to carry out works essential to alleviate flooding.
Whose was the only property to dredge their draining ditch when asked by the council. Who attended meetings to secure support from the EA only to see this support watered down because SBC didn't have the will to insist property and land owners carried out their legal responsibility. Who attended a meeting with SBC and with the Parish Clerk and Chairman of the PC and secured £5k which went eventually to SCS for about 30 metres of ditch clearing and not to a contractor we had identified and had quoted for clearing the ditches hundreds of metres of ditch.
Please feel free to criticise the one who continually pressed SBC for 3 years who eventually have now done several culvert works which is assisting flood relieve including Highworth Road.
Rather than have a pop at me perhaps you ought to support a fight against the EU who are the ones forcing through these climate change initiatives, which is costing the UK £18 billion pounds a year.
In the end these turbines will be built, whether SBC agrees or they lose on appeal who knows.
Robfm
says...
9:38am Thu 10 Feb 11
Being anonymous and using proxy servers and the like to hide ones identity in order to libel someone, is the act of a coward and as in the case of HSIN and isamess also the act of liars as there claims about me never having been a police were. http://www.scribd.co
m/doc/48482248
Needless to say neither have apologised. Not that I really expected them to.
How Soon Is Now
says...
12:35pm Thu 10 Feb 11
You are the liar Bob.
Phantom Poster
says...
6:35pm Thu 10 Feb 11
Robfm wrote:Really, what is this obsession you have about people revealing their name - and I guess address, as without that a name is meaningless!
AGINGER, where was anyone from the village when we were ridding the pub of the flood waters whilst inconsiderate 4x4 drivers from the village drove at speed increasing our flooding.
Also where were the majority of villagers when just two of us, neither born and bred locals, later assisted by another newbee put together a flood relief plan, walking miles plotting where the problems really existed, only to be hampered by certain long standing villagers who refused to carry out works essential to alleviate flooding.
Whose was the only property to dredge their draining ditch when asked by the council. Who attended meetings to secure support from the EA only to see this support watered down because SBC didn't have the will to insist property and land owners carried out their legal responsibility. Who attended a meeting with SBC and with the Parish Clerk and Chairman of the PC and secured £5k which went eventually to SCS for about 30 metres of ditch clearing and not to a contractor we had identified and had quoted for clearing the ditches hundreds of metres of ditch.
Please feel free to criticise the one who continually pressed SBC for 3 years who eventually have now done several culvert works which is assisting flood relieve including Highworth Road.
Rather than have a pop at me perhaps you ought to support a fight against the EU who are the ones forcing through these climate change initiatives, which is costing the UK £18 billion pounds a year.
In the end these turbines will be built, whether SBC agrees or they lose on appeal who knows.
People are just doing what is advised by security experts - ie. whenever posting on an open forum don't reveal personal details.
But you would rather ignore that in your obsession of publicity for yourself, your business and your political party.
Behind the posters 'nicknames' here are just people voicing an opinion. Those are just as relevant whether or not you know their name, address and telephone number!
It's exactly because you are stupid enough to reveal so much of your personal details that you are open to so much personal criticism. Also because you have revealed your own id you take all criticisms personally and always have to have the last word to try and save face.
You really are your own worst enemy!
hope 1
says...
11:35pm Thu 10 Feb 11
Robfm
says...
12:25pm Fri 11 Feb 11
Much of Illwinds claims were countered in a post from John Ayres (according to the SM website) on their own site and has not been challenged as far as I am aware.
PP simple solution stop attacking me and I will not need to defend myself.
itsamess
says...
11:45pm Fri 11 Feb 11
ar and hydrogen devices. One being a very ingenious device the size of a laundry basket capable of supplying a 4 bedroomed mansion with full power and heating from natural resources with zero emissions and polutants the bye-product being water pure-H2O--one of the mysteries of science--using hydrogen and oxygen to produce water--you know just like mother nature does. Proved science--So why has that been smothered--simple--h
ow do you place taxes or duty on free products that self replenish while they can load it all on energy sources that are rapidly depleting and cant be replenished.
Robfm
says...
9:57am Sat 12 Feb 11
ewsoffice/2008/oxyge
n-0731.html
As it says that was in 2008, but not a lot of progress since it seems.
itsamess
says...
6:07pm Sat 12 Feb 11
Robfm
says...
7:07pm Sat 12 Feb 11
itsamess
says...
10:49pm Sat 12 Feb 11
How do you arrive at stars--houses. You mean you dont know about the monuments in the north of our country designed by architects--now i thought you knew everything.
Must be you needing a lay down--or is it lie.
Robfm says...
1:14pm Wed 9 Feb 11
I think what my fellow residents should also take account of, is what Honda does for Swindon, and South Marston. We pay just £5/year rent for the benefit of the allotments, and Honda have just released more land.
As I have previously said as far as South Marston is concerned my property will be exposed to the greatest view of these turbines, the close you get to the village the less you will see them if the blimp was a true indicator.