Fury as appeal says yes to wind farm
James A. Oliver|Crewe Chronicle|August 13, 2008
An application for the mast, which is designed to monitor the potential for a wind farm at the foot of Bickerton Hill, was thrown out by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in February but the Planning Inspectorate has overturned the decision. Campaign group Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines (SBWT) has vowed to fight applicant Banks Developments to the end and has enlisted the support of Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien. The group - which raised a 171-name petition, and mustered 400 letters of objection - believes an application for a five-turbine wind farm is now inevitable.
An application for the mast, which is designed to monitor the potential for a wind farm at the foot of Bickerton Hill, was thrown out by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in February but the Planning Inspectorate has overturned the decision. Campaign group Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines (SBWT) has vowed to fight applicant Banks Developments to the end and has enlisted the support of Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien. The group - which raised a 171-name petition, and mustered 400 letters of objection - believes an application for a five-turbine wind farm is now inevitable.
A storm of protest has erupted after a controversial bid to erect a 60-metre wind mast at a beauty spot was upheld on appeal.
An application for the mast, which is designed to monitor the potential for a wind farm at the foot of Bickerton Hill, was thrown out by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in February but the Planning Inspectorate has overturned the decision.
Campaign group Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines (SBWT) has vowed to fight applicant Banks Developments to the end and has enlisted the support of Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien.
The group - which raised a 171-name petition, and mustered 400 letters of objection - believes an application for a five-turbine wind farm is now inevitable.
Chairman Mike Voisey said the decision …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]A storm of protest has erupted after a controversial bid to erect a 60-metre wind mast at a beauty spot was upheld on appeal.
An application for the mast, which is designed to monitor the potential for a wind farm at the foot of Bickerton Hill, was thrown out by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council in February but the Planning Inspectorate has overturned the decision.
Campaign group Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines (SBWT) has vowed to fight applicant Banks Developments to the end and has enlisted the support of Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien.
The group - which raised a 171-name petition, and mustered 400 letters of objection - believes an application for a five-turbine wind farm is now inevitable.
Chairman Mike Voisey said the decision ‘flies in the face' of local opinion. He added: "This site is unsuitable for many reasons and councillors clearly supported our view when they overwhelmingly voted to turn down the original application.
"We expect that the developers will follow with a full application for an industrial wind turbine development within months.
"We suspect that the developers have already made their minds up to push forward with the plan and we do not think that figures recorded by the monitoring mast will be significant in this decision.
"But the fight is far from over and we are preparing for the next phase."
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), Nantwich Natural History Society and a number of parish councils have added their weight to the campaign.
Mr O'Brien, who will be meeting Banks at the site on September 1, said: "I should like to hear their proposals first-hand, but I will be making it clear that I am in total support of my constituents who have concerns."
Banks has invited SBWT to meet with its representatives to discuss its future plans. Its renewables'Šprojects director, Rob Williams, said the mast will determine whether Bickerton hill is windy enough for a wind farm.
He added: "The information-gathering process will take at least six months, and during this period, we will continue to work as closely as possible with local communities to highlight any progress that is made with our plans and to address any queries or concerns that are raised. Only at the end of this period will we be able to assess if this particular site can be developed as a wind farm."