PNF Meeting at Nocton Village Hall
I received a report back from the meeting last night and understand this was well attended. The information below was included in a handout and may be useful in gaining a deeper insight into what could be encountered, should a wind farm be built on Nocton Fen. A fundraising Committee is due to be formed by PNF - if you can offer any assistance with the campaign, no matter how small, please get in touch with the group.
"PNF
PROTECT NOCTON, DUNSTON AND POTTERHANWORTH FENS
www.protectnoctonfen.org.uk
PLEASE TAKE A COPY
Links to Informative Websites
(All of these websites have information from all around the world including the UK. Many of the issues involved are the same particularly the effects of noise and infrasound on both humans and animals).
European Platform Against Windfarms
www.epaw.org
National Wind Watch
www.wind-watch.org
Global Wind Energy - The Human Impact
www.globalwindenergyimpacts.com
Country Guardian
www.countryguardian.net
Wind Action
www.windaction.org
Stop These Things
www.stopthesethings.com
The websites below concern wind farms/wind energy in the UK:
PNF Protect Nocton Fen
www.protectnoctonfen.org.uk
Marsh Windfarm Action Group
www.marshwindfarmactiongroup.co.uk
David Bellamy
www.davidbellamy.co.uk/wind-turbine-campaign
VOCAT Villagers on the Cliff Against Turbines
www.tpaw.org.uk
ReVOLT Temple Hill wind farm action group
www.loveden.org.uk/templehill.html
WindByte
http://www.windbyte.co.uk
Useful Articles
Wind Turbines can be Hazardous to Human Health
Alec N Salt, Ph.D., Cochlear Fluids Research Laboratory, Washington University in St. Louis.
http://oto2.wustl.edu/cochlea/wind.html
Wind Turbine Noise - British Medical Journal 8th March 2012
Christopher D Hanning (Honorary Consultant in sleep medicine)
Sleep Disorders Service, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester General Hospital, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK.
Alun Evans (Professor Emeritus)
Centre for Public Health, Queen's University of Belfast, Institute of Clinical Science B, Belfast, UK.
http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e1527
'Wind turbines are slashing house prices by 20% in St Enoder parish'
http://cornwallwindwatch.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/local-news-st-enoder-3/
Big Wind's Dirty Little Secret: Toxic Waste and Radioactive Lakes
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/big-winds-dirty-little-secret-toxic-lakes-and-radioactive-waste
Wind Turbine Issues: YouTube Videos
Type any of the links below into your browser and see for yourself what is happening all around the world with Wind Turbines.
Wind Turbine Explosion - Denmark 2008
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nSB1SdVHqQ
Wind Farm Issues compilation
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr3z_7iQ35s#t=307
Windmill Disaster - Denmark November 2010
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YJuFvjtM0s
Wind Turbine Ice Throw
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EmYe2u6J6g
Wind Turbine Flicker and Noise
www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyOImGHyJtQ
Wind Turbine Noise
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD9x6LkGZ00&feature=share
Out of control turbine shuts down road
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uydJJdQzZv8
Issues with wind turbines - SaveCowal.org
www.youtube.com/embed/D-mlT3BqS2A
Industrial Wind Turbines - NIMBY = Not In My Back Yard or Next It Might Be You!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJgYZfX4lLc
Fatal Attraction: Birds and Wind Turbines
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtgBWNKwBkE
Wind turbines and health problems
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm0Oe8J6qT8
Wind Turbines Causing Health Problems (Japan)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hDHHAqErjo
Harm from Wind Turbines - What has been known for decades - Seminar May 7th 2014
Carmen Krogh (Bsc Pharm)
University of Waterloo, Canada
A long video (approx 45 mins) but very informative
http://new.livestream.com/itmsstudio/events/2968290 "
Good meeting last night. I was particularly impressed with the contributions of Melvyn Grosvenor from Baumber, who is a leading light with the Marsh Windfarm Action Group. He really knows what he is talking about.
ReplyDeleteI would like to have seen more people there. I feel there must be a large majority in Nocton who don't want to get involved or who are perhaps not bothered either way.
The sad fact is that when these projects arise it is like opening a can of worms. You will have those strongly opposed to the wind farm, and those who are all for it who are influenced a lot by the possibility of financial benefit to the community. The result will be a divided community.
It is true there could be material benefits to the community, but for those people like myself who really care about and love the wild fenland landscape the destruction that will inevitably take place following the building of an industrial wind farm is a price too great to be paid.
Here's hoping for a good turnout at Metheringham tonight.
Richard
Thank you Jason and Richard for your comments. Either for or against, there must be more local people who read this blog and have an opinion on the matter. I just hope they will feel able to contribute to the debate following the information presented at both Vattenfall's and PNF's meetings.
ReplyDeleteReally have to echo Jason's comments particularly about the apparent absence of a single member of the parish council. I thought they were elected to represent the views of parishioners, or at least listen to those views. If they had been there they would realise there are people in Nocton strongly opposed to the wind farm.
ReplyDeleteAnother good meeting at Metheringham tonight with a reasonable turnout, including at least one person in favour of the wind farm, although he was reluctant to err his views.
Sadly also no one was there from the parish council - the reason probably being because they had a council meeting tonight.
Richard
Attended the meeting so though I would post my interpretation.
ReplyDeleteThe chair opened the meeting by asking everyone to respect the views of all attendees whether in the yes or no camp. A PNF slide presentation was shown by the chair followed by some detailed information about wind farms in Lincolnshire.
Just a few points I picked up on after the slide presentation - apologies if I have missed some - did not take notes.
1. There is no written confirmation that Dyson will in fact give money to any Community Fund. If the land is currently held in trust for his children it may be a non starter. Its also a common fact that most wind farm Community Funds are in any case held in trust. Don't expect subsidised electricity as this is not the norm.
2. The question was asked as to why no member of the Nocton Parish Council was present at such an important meeting - whether for or against.
3. Melvyn Grosvenor, a very knowledgable speaker on wind farms, described how his house, which had been valued by an estate agent for 280k prior to a planning application for a wind farm close to his property, was subsequently revalued at 140k subject to planning approval. When considering the application any price devaluation will not be considered by the PIN or the Secretary of State.
4. A new name for Lincolnshire Bomber County was suggested - Lincolnshire Wind Farm County.
5. If approved local farmers have a good case to apply for individually owned wind turbines. Examples of this can be found near already working wind farms so do not expect only 23 turbines in the vicinity. It may become the norm for a number of private turbines throughout our villages because a precedent has been set.
6. If it this planning application is rejected at this time it does not mean that it is over. In the future application can be made again as it remains within the land deeds.
7. Numerous Councils will have an input to the planning application and will decide on whether they approve or not. The Secretary of State however will have the final say and not the councils.
8. Around Q2 Q3 2015 the application is expected to go in and this will be the opportunity for everyone, including our own Parish Council, to make their views known - for or against - which will be included in the planning application.
Just to add how I felt after the meeting and its only my opinion.
Our neighbours living near/next to the wind farm will be decimated beyond belief at the collapse of their house valuation and the loss of such a tranquil location. Why we can't all stick together as previously when the application and subsequent rejection of planning application for the industrial dairy farm beggars belief.
I have looked at the Vattenfall drawing for the proposed underground HV connections to the grid and may suggest that this is not a given due to the nature of the route, no guarantee of irrevocable way leaves especially with Network Rail, cost comparisons re: Installation and Maintenance for underground versus Installation and Maintenance for overhead (pylons). No matter what they may propose It will still be an option for Vattenfall to route to the grid via large overhead power lines which would add an extra eyesore for residents in our village. Favourite option may be via the new proposed road to the site.
Finally I looked at the recent Vattenfall software showing how it can be seen from a number of positions within Nocton and the surrounding villages. Some Nocton residents will be ok with regard to not seeing the turbines, especially around the village green area, however the village will be split as some will see them as you leave the village towards Potterhanworth. If devaluation of properties does occur then it would be very sad if our village is divided as part "NIMBY" and part "I am ok Jack"
Incidentally, according to the software I would not actually be able to see the wind turbines but remain firmly in the no camp in order to support everybody else in our community who will be affected.
Mick Middleton
Thanks Mick for your comprehensive report. The more I read about wind energy and turbines in particular, the more I am inclined to come off the fence and oppose this development.
ReplyDeleteI am becoming very concerned over the progressive spread of turbines slowly encircling the East of England, with the potential to saturate our lovely county of Lincolnshire with industrial clutter. I can accept the argument about having to identify alternative energy sources for the future, but when turbines are marginally efficient at best and demand high subsidies to be 'profitable', with 'compensation money' having to be paid to those communities who are effectively selling out to developers, I am beginning to believe wind farms are not the answer we are seeking.
Turbines can only supplement energy supply and cannot be a major provider... ever. We will still need to have backup energy supply, whether wave-powered, solar, coal-powered or nuclear.
As one of the representatives at the Vattenfall meeting said to me when I mentioned I was sitting on the fence over this issue: 'Mind you don't get splinters!' Perhaps this is exactly what I should do, get off the fence and join the 'No' campaign along with my wife.
Excellent posts Mick and Geoff, and I really hope now Geoff you will join PNF. You would be more than welcome. They are holding a further meeting at Bardney church this coming Monday.
ReplyDeleteYou all know how strongly opposed I am myself to the proposed Nocton Fen wind farm, even though living where I do in Metheringham I would not see them or be directly affected.
My main opposition is on account of the damaging effect on wildlife and the fenland landscape.
I really hope now that people in Nocton, Dunston and Potterhanworth in particular will band together and unite in opposition to the wind farm.
It could well be that come next year Vattenfall will decide not to progress with the planning application.
Richard
Never assume that silence means apathy for those who support wind power, even in their own back yard.
ReplyDeleteIf people turned stuff off when they weren't using it we could all spare ourselves a few power stations.
I wonder if the good people of Holland complained when a previous generation of windmills industrialised their landscape and devastated nature by draining the fenland.
Apathy relates more to those who are not willing to look at the case for or against Nocton wind farm.
ReplyDeleteIts good to hear Mr.Anonymous that at least you are expressing your views, but I really feel you should put a name to yourself. Why are you afraid of people finding out who you are?
If you really are pro-wind then you should nail your colours to the mast.
Richard
Dear Anonymous
ReplyDeleteDutch Windmills were, and some still are, regarded as a working house, produced flour, housing, food on the table and a wage for the owners families. Not sure if taxpayers subsidies will see any of this if the wind farm is approved.
The loss of Dutch fenland was caused by massive flooding during the last century with the fatal loss of human life as well as that of thousands of livestock. However due to clever Dutch engineering millions of fenland acres was eventually saved and new fenland created. Think about what the word Netherlands means.
To compare Dutch windmills to that of a massive cluster of 23 x 3MW x 145H is quite frankly nonsense. The most famous windmills of Holland
Kinderdijk is the most famous group of polder mills in the world and is World Heritage listed. This UNESCO site (do pay a visit its a man made marvel) with nineteen mills gives you a great impression of how floods were prevented. Besides being home to this creative form of water management, Kinderdijk is a wonderful, picturesque area as well as a nature reserve now teeming in wildlife.
If approved perhaps we should register Nocton Fen Wind Farm a World Heritage site as well as an engineering marvel. Might even get a couple of visiting tourists a year.
Mmmm now theres an idea.
Mick Middleton
Although I am not aware that the Parish council received a formal invitation to attend the PNF event on 7th July, I would like to reassure "Jason C" that members of the Parish Council are well aware of the potential impact on Nocton and its residents should the Vattenfall proposals come to fruition. All emails and other information which PNF sends to the Parish Clerk have been passed on to Councillors and I am sure that, like me, my colleagues are undertaking their own research on all of the issues, contentious and otherwise, surrounding wind farms. As you may be aware, the Parish Council was instrumental in arranging a visit to the Lutterworth wind farm so that residents could see at first hand what it was like to be close up to wind turbines and, perhaps more importantly, to be able to discuss directly with local residents how they viewed the development. Four members of the Parish Council attended that event although it was disappointing that relatively few residents from Nocton chose to participate in the visit. I would also point out that, as individuals, Parish Councillors do need to be very careful when becoming involved in planning issues as there are very strict rules which govern what they can and cannot do in order to avoid any accusation by a potential applicant of "predetermination".
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, however, if and when a planning application for a wind farm on Nocton fen eventually materialises, then it will be my firm intention to ensure that the Parish council takes every possible step to ensure that it fully understands the views and concerns of all residents before making any comments of its owm. As part of this process, I would envisage the Parish Council holding at least one public meeting at which PNF would be invited to contribute by way of a presentation.
Kate Tyler
Chairman Nocton Parish Council
Many thanks Kate for responding on behalf of the Parish Council. Kind regards.
ReplyDeleteIt would appear then if I read it correctly, that for Anonymous read Kate Tyler? I would imagine that it was assumed by PNF when they arranged for leaflets to be distributed round all the villages they felt this was a personal invitation to all residents, regardless of whether they served on any Parish Council.
ReplyDeleteIf any members of Nocton Parish would like to come along I am sure they would be very welcome at the PNF meeting at Bardney church this coming Monday at 7.30pm.
I can understand in a way that parish councillors have to be careful in these matters, but it does seem to me that to leave it until a formal application goes in ie.autumn 2015 before consulting parishioners, is leaving it too late. By then everything will have been formalized by Vattenfall. It is NOW in this consultation period that people - parish councils, interested parties etc. can best and most effectively influence or amend the final proposals that Vattenfall will make.
Richard from Metheringham