Villagers lead bid to halt wind farm
A STRING of parish councils will lead opposition at a crunch meeting tonight to decide whether a major new wind farm project can be built in the Northamptonshire countryside.
Your Energy Ltd has applied to build eight 410ft-high (125m) turbines in land off Hillmorton Lane, Yelvertoft, a move that has outraged villagers from miles around, many of whom are expected to hear the decision by Daventry District Council planners.
Submissions have been made by several parish councils including Yelvertoft, Lilbourne, Crick, Kilsby, Welford, Cold Ashby, Barby, Watford, Naseby and West Haddon, all of them citing strong objections to the controversial scheme, all of them on the grounds of the visual impact it will have on the immediate rural area.
Other concerns include the alleged flicker and danger to traffic on the nearby M1, the adverse effect on the police helicopter and gliders, fears about the alleged health threat posed to neighbouring communities by low level noise, the adverse effects on property prices and the possible impact on the radar at Coventry Airport.
The 62-page report before tonight’s meeting also includes an influential submission by English Heritage which has raised serious concerns about the impact the project would have on Stanford Hall, the grade one-listed, 18th century stately home on the county border with Leicestershire.
Its assessment states the hall is an important Queen Anne/baroque period home and the wind farm would have a major impact on the views from the north of the hall. In addition, it has raised specific concerns about the negative impact the project would have on a registered historical monument, the former St Andrew’s Church at Clay Coton.
The list of consultees approached, which includes the BBC, Sywell Aerodrome, the Civil Aviation Authority and several mobile phone giants such as Orange and T-Mobile, also features the Wildlife Trust and the Northants Bat Group, both of which have voiced opposition to the scheme.
In total, 1,235 letters from more than 400 properties in the affected areas have been received by Daventry District Council.
Councillors will be asked to reject the scheme, principally over the concerns about Stanford Hall which, it says, outweigh all other planning considerations including the drive to secure low carbon energy.
The report, penned by planning officer Eamon McDowell, states: “The council considers the siting and size of the turbines and their strident finish, together with the movement of the turbine blades, would draw attention to them.
“Accordingly, we consider the proposed turbines would adversely distract from an existing view of the hall.”
n For a full report on the meeting, see tomorrow’s Chron.
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Weather for Northampton
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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Temperature: -8 C to 1 C
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