Weston Turbines – Say No

Growing opposition to the proposals by Weston land owners John and Paul Cherry to build a wind farm just outside Baldock and Letchworth gained intensity at a meeting held by WARD (Weston Against Rural Destruction) on Saturday 15 November.

Weston village hall was packed to standing-room-only by people from Letchworth, Baldock and surrounding areas, including many NHDC Councillors, for an all day seminar “Let’s Talk Turbines”.   North-East Herts MP Oliver Heald spoke expressing his grave concerns over the Weston planning application.  Two guest speakers, Jane Davis and Sarah Price talked about their devastating first hand experience of living close to wind farms and the intolerable effect of the noise on health and the sleep depravation.  Sound recordings formed impressionable evidence against the wisdom of constructing huge industrial turbines as close to dwellings as the proposed Weston development

Both speakers had been forced out of their houses by the noise and vibrations emanating from the wind farms close to their dwellings -  “People were shell-shocked by Jane Davis’s and Sarah Price’s presentations –  they realised it could happen to them.  Many who were previously in favour of the application had their minds opened and said they would now be writing to NHDC opposing the plans.” commented a WARD spokes person.

Further encouragement to WARD’s campaign came last week when Weston Parish Council announced the results of a village poll that they had conducted on the subject to establish local public opinion.  Voting papers were delivered to every house in Weston asking whether residents were for or against the planning application for the Weston Wind Turbines.

On 13 November, Weston Parish Council announced that responses counted on the closing date for replies revealed that a staggering 76% were against the project whilst only 23% were for it.  Weston PC has announced that they will write to North Herts District Council’s Planning Officers supporting this majority view of residents and outlining their opposition to the planning application.

Coincidentally, this ratio of opinion mirrors similar findings from a web-poll conducted by “The Comet” in October, where views were taken from a far wider public audience.  This also reflects a similar pattern of wide objections to the Weston Wind Turbine planning application on the NHDC website.

Noise is not the only issue – at a far wider regional level and referring to the Weston proposal, the influential organisation, the East of England Regional Assembly has ‘significant reservations that the integrity of the Green Belt could be harmed by the installation of wind turbines within the current boundary’.  In addition to Weston – Benington, Litlington, Bygrave and Langford are just a few other local sites said to be being targeted by private developers with an eye for huge profits.

WARD is issuing a strong word of warning, “This is no time for complacency.  The only way to have any real clout is for people to state their objections in an email or letter to Richard Tiffin at NHDC.  Their closing date is 1^st December – so now is the time to act before it is too late.  Our website www.westonturbines.org.uk gives full details of how to object.”

Those wishing to contact WARD should email: westonturbines@yahoo.co.uk  or phone 0793 4432084. 

Concern over the planning application to erect three huge wind turbines just outside Baldock, outlined in the Comet article (23 October), has provoked such interest that the action group WARD (Weston Against Rural Destruction) is planning a meeting to enable the public to learn more about issues raised by objectors to the proposals. The meeting will be held at Weston Village Hall on Saturday 15th November from 10:30 am.
“The size of response to our email address, westonturbines@yahoo.co.uk, suggests that there are many residents of Baldock and Letchworth and even as far a field as Stevenage and Royston, who had no idea that these plans were afoot. Public ignorance on the matter is alarming!” said a WARD spokes person.
In order to provide an insight into the detrimental effects that a wind farm on this landscape conservation area would have on Weston Hills, the surrounding towns, villages, and the population, WARD will be hosting a meeting to air some of the topics and create greater awareness of the proposals. “The intention is not to colour people’s judgement – but they need to know the facts and have their say to NHDC before it is too late. The Council’s closing date for written comments is at the end of November – this is a very important decision.” WARD says.
Asked about The Comet web poll which revealed that the vast majority of people locally would not want a wind farm near their home, WARD say, “We are all in favour of renewable energy, but there is a right place for everything – and this is totally the wrong site. We hope the meeting will generate an understanding of the implications if the Weston Hills development went ahead.”
Speakers at the meeting will include Oliver Heald MP, who spoke in the House of Commons in June, firmly expressing his opposition to the increasing number of planning applications to build wind farms across this region.

Oliver visited the proposed site this week and said, “The visual impact of these wind turbines on this precious landscape would be extremely detrimental in environmental terms. The skyline of Weston Hills was protected at great cost with a tunnel when the Baldock by-pass was built, because this end of the Chiltern Hills is so important in landscape terms. There are not even pylons on this ridge. Hertfordshire is one of the most heavily populated counties and many people take great pleasure in using footpaths and bridleways that border the proposed site.”
People throughout the UK who currently live near wind farms have their own experience of what it is like. A speaker – Jane Davis will give her views – Jane Davis and her husband have recently submitted a Report to the Select Committee on Economic Affairs of the House of Lords on the Economics of Renewable Energy.
Public interest in the work of WARD has led the organisation to create a new website, www.westonturbines.org.uk. This gives details of the meeting to be held at Weston Village Hall on Saturday 15th November from 10:30 Entrance is free, those wishing to attend are asked to register by email: westonturbines@yahoo.co.uk or phone 0793 4432084, leaving a contact telephone number.

Incensed at local land owners’ plans to erect three huge wind turbines on Weston Hills near to the new Baldock by-pass, villagers have formed an action group to fight the project.  Weston Against Rural Destruction (WARD) firmly believe that if this proposal goes ahead, it will open the floodgates for other enterprising farmers and land owners to set up any number of wind farms to dominate the countryside around Baldock, Letchworth and surrounding villages.

 

“We have already displayed posters and delivered fliers to our local community – but there is a much wider issue here.  Other sites near our towns and villages have also been identified as suitable for further wind turbine development – if NHDC approves this first wind farm, it will set a precedent for others to follow and destroy the landscape of much of North Herts.  Our concern is that people outside Weston are not fully in the picture – they need to have their say too!”   said a spokesperson for WARD.  

This is the second time Weston Park Farms has submitted its Planning Application to build on this Green Belt site, fuelling very real anxieties.  Set on high ground over Weston Hills, the three proposed wind turbines are giants.  Reaching a towering 125 metres, each of these massive high-rise structures is equivalent to almost two-and-a- half times the height of Nelson’s Column!  In addition, a 52.5 metre wind speed mast is also planned.  These monsters will dominate the view from many homes in Clothall Common, Clothall, Weston, Baldock and Letchworth and will be easily visible on the skyline from much of North Herts and Bedfordshire. 

NHDC has not allowed much time for objections – these have to be submitted in writing by 1^st December.  “This is a very short space of time to create awareness and support for our campaign to protect our stunning rural landscape.  Residents in all local towns and villages need to make their feelings very clear right now, or it is going to be too late and the heritage of our beautiful countryside will be destroyed for ever.^”   explains WARD.

“We are all for renewable energy – but there is evidence of problems when wind farms are sited as near to dwellings as this will be.  Noise is a real issue – in France the Government’s medical advisers have recommended that wind turbines must not be erected this close to towns and villages because of the danger to health from noise and vibrations.  In this country it is well reported that, even in homes some considerable distance away, the irritating thudding sound, day and night, has ‘wrecked people’s lives’.  People who suffer this noise nuisance have found it impossible to sell their homes!”  Property values in our own area are also in danger of falling.

Another problem with wind turbines so near to towns is that they interfere with TV reception.  The developers indicate that the BBC calculates a staggering 4,000-plus homes in the area will be affected. 

People will remember the care Herts County Council took when building the Baldock bypass to ensure that the character of the landscape on Weston Hills was preserved.  Millions of pounds were spent taking the road through a cutting and tunnel.  ‘Bunds’ planted with trees and shrubs were constructed to minimise noise and a there is a quiet road surface.  All this expenditure will be for nothing if this Green Belt countryside they took such care to preserve, and which is enjoyed by so many, is blighted with wind turbines.

Weston Against Rural Destruction is calling for people in neighbouring towns and villages to support this cause by expressing their views to in writing to Richard Tiffin, Planning Department, NHDC Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth, Herts SG6 3JF quoting Planning Application No. 08/00047/1.  Copies of the Planning Application can be viewed at the above office between 9am and 4.30pm Monday to Friday.  It is also available on www.north-herts.gov.uk/planning.   To submit your views on line you must quote 143205 370665 255.  The deadline for objections is 1^st December. 

The group would welcome anybody willing to display “Say No to Weston Wind Turbines” posters, deliver leaflets, or help through active involvement.  Contact details – email westonturbines@yahoo.co.uk  or phone 0793 4432084.  

October 2008