Council dampens windfarm plans (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Council dampens windfarm plans

THE company planning to build wind turbines across the Cotswolds has accused CDC watchdogs of behaviour "verging on the irresponsible".

Nick Brown, chief executive of Green Amp, made the comments after the chairman of CDC's Overview and Scrutiny Committee spoke at a public meeting in Fairford last Thursday.

The council's decision to back the Gloucestershire Renewable Energy Action Plan, with its target of 40-50MW of electricity - enough to power 50,000 houses - to be generated by renewable energy by 2010, was 'called-in' by the OSC last week.

OSC chairman Christine Eatwell said it was important not to rush into the plan and stressed there needed to be a clear policy for renewable energy.

She again made her point of view clear in front of 50 residents in Fairford last Thursday.

She said: "We shouldn't be pushed into anything just because applications happen to be coming in today.

"I believe it is right that we go through a rigorous planning process."

However, Mr Brown has accused Cllr Eatwell of going against national policy and prejudicing his company's proposals.

He said: "Tony Blair has made is clear we should not be waiting around and they (the OSC) want to wait around - it is the opposite of national policy.

"I think this is verging on the irresponsible. In my view the recent coverage of what we are doing has caught them short and they doing their best to scupper the whole process. It is less than democratic and irresponsible."

Green Amp is expected to submit a planning application to CDC to build turbines on eight sites in the Cotswolds "within a week or two".

And Mr Brown says his project is largely being supported, despite the sentiments of a vocal anti-windfarm lobby.

Two of the proposed sites are near Fairford, one at Dean Farm at Coln St Aldwyns (four turbines) and the other at Dudgrove Farm near Inglesham (two turbines).

Mr Brown said at last Thursday's meeting: "I am seeing a dramatic change in the way these proposals are being received by local communities. In our view wind is the best thing we have got and there is no real place for Nimbyism here."

Green Amp believes a combination of renewable energy resources must be exploited to meet Government targets for tackling the world's energy crisis.

Mr Brown added: "Wind is the best thing we have for the time being and time is of the essence. We need to get on with it - now is the time."

Each pair of turbines will produce enough energy to power 440 homes and some 18 pairs are planned for Gloucestershire.

However, at last Thursday's meeting residents raised several concerns about wind power, which were primarily aesthetic and environmental issues.

GREEN Amp boss Nick Brown has criticised the decision to send green energy plans back to cabinet because of plans for wind turbines in the area.

He branded the move by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee irresponsible and contrary to national guidelines.

Mr Brown believes an anti-wind lobby is trying to hijack the plans for the Cotswolds to sign up to renewable energy targets.

He said: "In my view what this boils down to is an anti-wind lobby group focused around Fairford to try and derail the plans."

"The chairman (Cllr Christine Eatwell) used her casting vote to swing it back to cabinet.

"She didn't declare her vested interest which is that two of the proposed wind turbine sites are on her patch."

However, CDC spokesman Claire McGine said there had been no need for Cllr Eatwell to declare her Fairford connection as the meeting was only discussing the process by which the original decision had been made.

She said: "What they were looking at is the Gloucestershire Renewable Energy Action Plan, which is non-specific.

"The other point is there are no planning applications in and Mrs Eatwell is not a member of the planning committee.

"If she were she would have to declare an interest if she owned the land or the land next door or had a personal or business relationship with the person making the application."

And Cllr Eatwell has defended the decision of the OSC to send the GREAP back to cabinet and her cautiousness with the Green Amp plans.

She said: "I don't think we should just accept that wind turbines are the only source of renewable energy for the Cotswolds.

"It must be right for the Cotswolds, rather than a knee jerk reaction saying we must embrace renewable energy and encourage all applications that comes forward.

"I have nothing against Green Amp or wind turbines, but we have to be careful."