New wind farm plan is revealed - The Rugby Observer

New wind farm plan is revealed

Rugby Editorial 28th May, 2014 Updated: 27th Oct, 2016   0

A THIRD attempt in four years to build a new wind farm on land between the A5 and the M6 has been described by campaigners as being against the interests of the community.

ASC Renewables has unveiled its desire to build up to seven wind turbines on farmland to the south-east of Wolvey.

It is just six miles away from where four turbines were rejected last month due to fears it could jeopardise air traffic safety.

The company this week began to consult residents from the village and the surrounding area to introduce the Wolf Hedge Windfarm, which bosses claim could provide enough clean electricity to power around 7,900 homes.




Ward councillor Chris Pacey-Day, who is staunchly against wind farms, told the Observer he would work with the residents of Wolvey, Copston Magna and Burton Hastings to keep the Wolvey Plateau a no windfarm zone.

Lorne Smith, of protest group Against Subsidised Windfarms Around Rugby, added: “Energy Minister Michael Fallon has confirmed there are enough wind turbines already consented to meet the government’s 2020 targets for renewable energy.


“Therefore any more wind turbines that produce inefficient, small amounts of intermittent energy, are an unnecessary desecration of the countryside and residents property values.

“Because of the ‘green’ subsidises, their only efficient contribution is to take money from people’s electricity bills and transfer it into wealthy landowners’ and overseas turbine manufacturers’ pockets, all of which we do not see as being in the interests of the community.”

Operations director Mike Denny said early indications were for up to seven wind turbines, but refused to rule out more.

Although he said there would be electricity bill discounts for nearby residents and a benefit fund for community projects.

“We have yet to complete the full suite of environmental studies required for a planning application, but believe that early consultation with the local community is vitally important,” he said.

“We hope to meet as many local people as possible this week so their views can provide valuable feedback into the design of the proposal.”

Energy company RES’ plans to build Swift Wind Farm on land north of Churchover were rejected by the borough council last month because it would have what was described as an unacceptable impact on the Pailton Air-Ground-Air Voice Communications systems – a stumbling block planning officer Nathan Lowde said “cannot be overcome or mitigated against”.

The site of the newly proposed wind farm – on land south east of Wolvey, between Mere Lane and Withybrook Spinney – is around six miles from Pailton, just three miles further from the village than the proposed site of Swift Wind Farm.

A full public consultation event for Wolf Hedge Windfarm is expected to be held in June. ASC said it intended to submit a planning application towards the end of this year.

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