Villagers rally again to battle wind farm

0 Comments | Northern Echo, Jul 29, 2010 | by Chris Fay

RESIDENTS are preparing to once again fight to preserve their landscape after developers lodged plans for a three turbine wind farm.

Sedgefield Village Residents’ Forum is opposing Wind Prospect’s plans for the 2Mw 110m-high turbines on agricultural land near Spring Lane.

The forum says the village will face major disruption during construction and operation, but Wind Prospect says the turbines will help meet the Government’s renewable energy targets.

Julia Bowles, chairwoman of the forum, said: “My major concern is that, once again, our community is presented with a controversial planning application with the potential for great disruption to our community at the time of year when many are on holiday and local groups and our town council does not meet.

“It is essential that our community is made aware of all the implications of this application.”

She added: “It’s very worrying that we have to keep having these ongoing fights to protect our community way of life.”

In recent years, the forum has fought several wind farm applications, a secure mental health hospital and a caravan park.

Theakston Estates’ caravan park was refused planning permission by the former Sedgefield Borough Council, but the park was endorsed by an appeal.

The forum backed plans for a motorsports track, which recently failed to win approval during a public inquiry.

Wind Prospect says the turbine bases will be hidden underground, meaning the land can be farmed up to the columns, and that the development is entirely reversible at the end of its useful life.

The firm says the proposed site can accommodate the wind turbines with a 750m buffer from the nearest residential properties and adds that the land is of no significant conservation value.

It states in its planning statement: “Planning policy promotes renewable energy development where the benefits of the proposal outweigh any identified harm that may result from the development.”

Comments on the wind farm should be submitted to Durham County Council by August 12, but the forum is seeking an extension to the consultation period.

A forum meeting will be held at 7pm on Monday, in the parish hall, to discuss the application further.