Villagers fear long wind farm fight
Villagers fear they are facing a lengthy and expensive battle against a power company trying to build a wind farm.
ScottishPower Renewables, which hopes to put up 400ft turbines near Queniborough, was last week denied permission for a 230ft mast to test out the area's suitability.
The power company announced today that it would appeal against the decision by Charnwood Borough Council.
The appeal will go to a Government planning inspector, and could go to a public inquiry.
Villagers, who had been prepared for the appeal, will now try to raise £50,000 over the next 12 months to hire a lawyer to fight the company's plans for the site, near Ridgemere Lane.
Mike Jones, chairman of the objectors' group, Scottish Power Renewables Out (Sprout), said: "I thought it would appeal.
"But the Charnwood planning committee went through the case quite thoroughly before rejecting it.
"It saw it would have a detrimental affect on the beauty of the area and be out of character.
"I don't see how that's going to change.
"We will be holding a public meeting tomorrow to let everyone know the latest developments and get to work again.
"We will also be working to get the land around Ridgemere Lane protected so that no-one can touch it, and look at raising £50,000 over the next six to 12 months to fight the case."
A ScottishPower Renewables spokesman said: "We were disappointed with the outcome of the planning committee meeting and its decision not to accept the recommendation of the planning officer to approve the application.
"Other survey work on the site will continue while we ready our appeal."
The Sprout group meeting will be held at 8pm tomorrow, at Queniborough village hall.
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by ED, Leicester
Tuesday, February 24 2009, 1:05PM
“Now let¿s get this into perspective - these people will still want power, but they seem quite happy for other people to have wind/coal/nuclear in their back yards, just as long as it¿s not in theirs! Power has to come from somewhere and they are going to have to build more nuclear/coal powered stations sometime soon - do you fancy that option in Queniborough instead? They have to be built somewhere. I personally would welcome wind turbines as an alternative. I know they are still in development and are supposedly not as efficient as they could be, but hey, all technology has to be developed, tested and improved somewhere! If people keep delaying this kind of technology, then we will never get away from coal/nuclear. Wake up people and take responsibility!”
by Paul, Hamilton
Tuesday, February 24 2009, 1:05PM
“Scottish Power phone up Bill and Michael they would like some wind mills in the their back gardens!!”
by Paul, Leicester
Tuesday, February 24 2009, 12:53PM
“Why is it that when anybody fights to protect the enviroment and the natural beauty of the country side people assume it's not in my back yard rule. I do not live near to the proposed site but wish the sprout group all the best in fighting this cause. These so called businesses have jumped on the band wagon of using climate change to justify everything. Just like to so called ECO TOWN nat to Stoughton. There is nothing ECO about it and will ruin a beautiful area for what PURE PROFIT .”
by D, Leicestershire.
Tuesday, February 24 2009, 12:50PM
“"No wind no power, end of story. "
Gosh! I wonder why no-one has thought of this before? Or perhaps they have...”
by Ian, Beesby, Nr. Alford LINC'S
Tuesday, February 24 2009, 12:24PM
“NIMBY'S every where your fight for justice is right. I know as we now have about 40 of these things around us now and growing so fast. They are placed in areas that can not sustain there true effective job, eg power. No wind no power, end of story. Now out in the sea there is tidal winds all day. It has noughthing to do with how green it is and therefore could be for the large energy companies image. It has more to do with how much cheaper it will be to build them and the grants to build on land not sea. I do beleive that this is part of the way to go for our energy needs. However, I do not think that land is the best way forward for these and use of this technology, we are an island let us make the best use of our natural resources and stop polluting what little land we have left of our country for short term gain for the large energy companies who I think are acting more like school bullies than forward thinking business people with our futures in their minds, or is it their profits for shareholders?”