Public Inquiry
The Public Inquiry that will guide the final decision as to whether our beautiful landscape is to be desecrated by this outrageous windfarm proposal, and which
was overwhelmingly rejected by SCDC last year, is now scheduled for 8 days commencing 9th June 2009. See below for details of how you can help at this crucial stage.
Oh No...
A planning application has now been submitted for another local wind farm, near Linton.
This one would feature turbines even taller than at Wadlow - a massive 125m (410ft) - amongst the biggest in the UK.
More...
A Common Sense Victory
On 6th June 2007, the Planning Committee of South Cambridgeshire District Council REJECTED
the Wadlow Wind Farm application.
The Council stated, in their news release:
'The number, height and extent of the turbines would dominate the character and quality of the landscape which can be appreciated by the public from nearby important public rights of way.'
'Councillor Philippa Corney, chairman of the Planning Committee said, "SCDC is fully supportive of renewable energy initiatives in South
Cambridgeshire. However the scale of this application was not appropriate for this particular location. The benefits accruing from
this proposal are outweighed by the substantial harm it could cause. SCDC would be disappointed but not surprised if the applicant
decided to appeal but is prepared to present a comprehensive submission to the appeals inspector on request."
SCDC Site Visit 4th JUNE 2007
SCDC District Councillors undertook a site visit so that they could understand the terrible impact that this proposal
would have on the local landscape.
RES Ltd were asked by the District Council to fly 2 blimps (one at the height of the turbines' hub and one at the
height of the blade tip) to help people to understand how the turbines will damage the environment.
As part of the public consultation carried out by SCDC, the following 2 documents were submitted by us and on our behalf:
 SWWF - Formal Objection
TLP - Formal Objection
In October 2006 SCDC raised issues resulting from the public consultation with RES. RES responded in
November 2006:
RES Response to SCDC, Nov 06
In December we submitted to SCDC our reply to the RES response:
SWWF reply to SCDC, Dec 06
Worthless Technology
The world is finding out that wind is a worthless technology that we're subsiding.
During the second half of 2006, the press has been awash with stories about the shortcomings of
wind turbines and wind farms, not least because the
Renewable Energy Foundation itself used official Ofgem statistics to uncover
just how little worthwhile power is produced by Britain's almost-2000 turbines.
As Christopher Booker
pointed out in the Sunday Telegraph
for 17th December 2006: "These confirm that not a single turbine in mainland Britain would be economically viable
without the vast hidden subsidy we all pay through our electricity bills, in effect doubling its cost."
The REF survey points out that
the most uselessly inefficient turbine in the UK is one serving the headquarters of a company in Kings Langley,
Herts - and surprise, it's Renewable Energy Systems, the big business behind the Wadlow Farm power station proposal!
Whereas most turbines manage to generate power at a measly 28 per cent of capacity, the Renewable Energy Systems
turbine comes in last at a hopeless 8%. Says Booker:
"The real message of the REF reports is first, that wind is so unreliable that we would have
to build up to a dozen conventional power stations just to provide backup for all the intended turbines
when the wind is not blowing; and second, that the more we depend on the unpredictable wind, the more
this will destabilise the grid, threatening its breakdown."
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Stop Wadlow Wind Farm
In 2006 Renewable Energy Systems Ltd submitted a planning application,
no. S/1018/06/F,
to South Cambs. District Council to build a wind farm at Wadlow Farm in South Cambridgeshire.
It would consist of thirteen 120 metre - 393 ft - high wind turbines.
This is near the A11, sited in close proximity to the villages of Balsham, West Wratting,
Six Mile Bottom, Great Wilbraham, Brinkley and Fulbourn.
See map.
Parts of Balsham will be less than 1.5km from the closest turbines, and parts of
West Wratting and Six Mile Bottom are less than 2km.
The aim of Stop Wadlow Wind Farm is to oppose the construction of a wind farm at this location.
There are many reasons why local residents should be very concerned.
In June 2007 South Cambs. District Council voted 10-2 to reject the wind farm proposal. RES then appealed, and there is now to be a Public Inquiry
to determine the final outcome.
Public Inquiry - Latest Position (March 2009)
Since the postponement of the Public Inquiry last July, the past few months have been full of protracted legal wrangling. So here is the latest position.
The Public Inquiry has been rescheduled for 8 days commencing 9th June 2009.
At present Cambourne has been booked as the venue, but we are still investigating alternative venues and hope that it might be brought closer to the site to enable more of our supporters to participate and observe. SCDC are keen to support us on this.
The Inspector will be Andrew Pykett. This is the same Inspector as in the Boxworth wind farm inquiry. He rejected their appeal on the grounds of landscape so we are hopeful that he will make a similar recommendation regarding Wadlow Farm.
We have been notified of a change to the process by PINS advising us that the final decision will now be made by the Secretary of State instead of the Planning Inspector himself. We have been advised that the Secretary of State is currently "calling in" quite a lot of wind farm appeals around the country. We hope that the Inspector makes a recommendation in our favour and that she accepts his recommendation. This does of course mean that we need to be able to make the strongest possible case at the Inquiry and in this your support is needed.
There are 3 main ways in which you can support this final stage in our fight against this awful development.
Funding:
Our legal and professional fees continue to escalate. A big thank you to those of you who have made donations towards the costs of these fees. We appreciate that these are credit-crunching times but please dig deep to support us. Our cause is funded completely through donations (no Legal Aid available to us). Donations can be made in the usual way by cheque made payable to Stop Wadlow Wind Farm and sent to The Secretary at 27 Six Mile Bottom Road, West Wratting, Cambs CB21 5NE.
You can also make donations by Paypal or credit card through our online donation facility.
If you are able to make a more substantial donation, please contact a member of our committee and let us know how much you are able to pledge to our cause. Every penny counts!
Increase Our Membership:
It is crucial that we have a substantial membership so that what we say as a
group carries weight and credibility at the Inquiry and with the Secretary of State.
Please encourage all adult members of your
household and any friends and visitors to become members of our campaign.
Our precious countryside is enjoyed by many who come
to the area to walk, ride, shoot or just visit with friends. It is now
easier than ever to join online, right now!
Many thanks to those of our members who have continued to spread the word and sign up friends and family as members of our group. Please keep signing up new members!
Come to the Inquiry:
There will be a time allocated during the Inquiry for members of the public to speak. The Inspector is keen to hear points of view from people who have a different perspective on why this development should not go ahead (rather than lots of people saying the same thing). So if you make use of this area in an unusual way e.g. riding, cycling, archaeology, botany etc please let us know. Our barrister would be happy to support you in making a statement to the Inspector.
If you don’t wish to speak at the Inquiry come along and hand in a letter to the Inspector on the first day of the Inquiry. Make sure that it has your name and address on it.
Come along as an observer. Once we have confirmation of the timetable we will let you know. So if you are particularly interested in the noise implications for example you can come along on that day.
This is the final hurdle that we have to cross. Your continued support is essential.
Quick Links
Live in Balsham?
How BIG?
So You Don't Think You'll Hear Them?
Sinister Developments
Parish Councils Reject Windfarm
Join The Campaign
Boxworth Wind Farm Rejected
How Windfarms Can Destroy a Community
Other News
No Thanks
Our small Committee is not able to monitor every local paper, parish
newsletter and community group publication. So if you see letters or
articles being published in favour of wind farms please take the initiative
and write letters countering their arguments. And do let us know when
you get something published by sending a copy to the Secretary. You could
also write to your MP. Also please let us know of any good articles that you see
which you feel add weight to our argument.
In case you thought Wadlow Wind Farm was a problem for West Wratting, not Balsham, take note: most of
Balsham village is closer to the proposed turbines than any houses in the main part of West Wratting village.
There are houses in Balsham that will be less than a mile from one of these giant - almost 400 ft - wind turbines.
Wadlow Farm may be in West Wratting Parish, but this proposed windfarm could affect you at least as much.
If in doubt check out the map.
On 17/7/2006 Balsham Parish Council voted unanimously against (6-0) the windfarm.
Vast.
These turbines would be significantly taller than anything else in the area to the best of
our knowledge - almost 400 feet to the tip of the blade.
I.e., amongst the biggest wind turbines proposed for anywhere in the UK.
And, to make it worse, they will be on locally high ground, making them even more prominent.
They would be visible more than 30 miles away.
Happy for this to built on your doorstep?
If not, help now.
We doubt it.
Some residents who already live close to other wind farms liken the noise to that of an endless train, or a constant distant pile driving.
Do you want to live with what could be a constant noise nuisance, day and night?
If not, help now.
In the early hours of Monday July 12th 2006, under cover of darkness, a van crewed by at least 2 men coasted silently through
West Wratting. They stole every single 'Stop Wadlow Wind Farm' sign they could find, trespassing on private
property and causing criminal damage in the process. More...
The local Parish Councils met during summer 2006 to discuss & vote on the windfarm.
All the councils that voted on this rejected it, and most by a unanimous vote:
| Balsham PC | Against 6-0 |
| Brinkley PC | Against 4-1 |
| Carlton PC | Against 4-2 |
| Gt Wilbraham PC | Against 6-0 |
| Lt Wilbraham PC | Against 4-2 |
| West Wickham PC | Against 4-1 |
| West Wratting PC | Against 7-0 |
| Weston Colville PC | Against 6-0 |
Opposition to this outrageous proposal is growing rapidly and we need more volunteers for this important fight.
Would you like to help?
Join us now and help protect our countryside.
The proposed wind farm at Boxworth (just the other side of Cambridge) was rejected by the Planning Inspector.
The main reason he gave for his decision gives us greater confidence that we have powerful arguments for demanding
the same decision regarding Wadlow Farm. His report states that "the scheme
would have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the area,
including a harmful effect on aspects of the historic landscape and visual amenity".
He also concluded that the development would have a detrimental impact on road safety on the A14.
For further information click here.
"It is time we all realised that the only real beneficiaries from windfarms
are the commercial organisations that build them, and the few politicians
seeking to make unsound environmental gestures to be seen to be doing
'something.'"
"The losers are the energy consumers who fund the subsidies, local residents
and local businesses, the elderly, the young and the lowly paid, tourists
and ramblers, plus the bird and animal habitat and life that is destroyed."
Professor David Bellamy, celebrated environmentalist, conservationist and
author - extract from a letter to the Sunday Telegraph, May 28th 2006.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) is running
a national campaign to protect tranquillity.
"Tranquillity is important for everyone - for our hearts, minds and bodies.
We all need to 'get away from it all; every now and then.
Tranquil areas provide a means of doing this in a crowded, heavily built-up country.
Being largely natural and free from intrusive manmade noise and structures, tranquil areas in the countryside allow
us to escape the noise and stress of cities, towns and suburbs, to be inspired and to get refreshed.
It has become harder to experience tranquillity over the past few decades - and may get harder still.
Tranquillity is threatened by the steadily increasing urbanised area, the development of the road network,
the growth in road and air traffic and the expansion of energy infrastructure."
More..
The CPRE, Cambridge and South Cambs Group, at a meeting on 13/3/2006, agreed to oppose
the proposed Wadlow Wind Farm on the grounds that it would represent a disfigurement of an ancient landscape given that
an ancient monument, Fleam Dyke, runs along the site.
James Paice MP has announced the results of his survey of local residents views on the windfarm.
He found 43% in favour and 53% opposed. Within West Wratting, of those who completed the survey 75% are opposed.
For the full press release click here.
 Is this the kind of thing you want to see in the gently rolling South Cambridgeshire countryside?
No, we don't either.
Stop Linton Wind Farm Action Group
Please click here to visit the website for the Stop Linton Wind Farm Action Group.
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