Parish Council Meeting

Presentation by Vattenfall representative

These are my personal notes from the meeting. If I have interpreted anything incorrectly, please do leave comments below so that amendments can be registered.

Introduction by Vice Chair [Parish Council]
This is the start of a very long process. Nocton Parish Council will be working with Dunston, Potterhanworth and possibly Bardney Parish Councils in view of the location of the proposed wind farm. Additional public meetings shall be arranged as necessary.

Vattenfall
The company have 'an option' to develop a wind farm on Nocton Fen. There will be a full consultation exercise to identify all concerns and opportunities arising from the project. Studies will be undertaken to assess the visual impact, any impact from noise and the socio-economic impacts. This will feed in to an Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping document. It is hoped that everyone 'gets involved' with the consultation process.

The company were aware of the previous plans by Renewable Energy Systems Ltd, but technology has changed so there is the opportunity to look at this site again. Precise details of construction are still unavailable as it is very early in the project timeline e.g. whether pylons would be necessary to link the sub-station to the grid; logistics of construction (it appears a 'swept path analysis' has already been carried out to identify whether the road network is suitable).

Please see the enclosed extracts from a Stakeholder Briefing Note which gives more detail of the timelines of the project.

Beeswax Farming
The company bought the land knowing there was the option to develop a wind farm on Nocton Fen. Indeed, the farm couldn't be bought with the option excluded... it was part of the sales agreement. Beeswax are neutral over onshore wind and as the land was bought for farming, they do not intend to make any financial gain from the project. Any gain as a landowner will pass to the community, adding to any community fund from Vattenfall. Beeswax want to ensure that all consultation processes with the community are robust.

Dyson Family
Also take a neutral approach about onshore wind energy. Again there was a wish to ensure that the community are properly consulted during the process to assess the site suitability.

District Councillor
Expressed disappointment that Vattenfall hadn't approached the Council before meeting with the local community. It transpires that in 2010 each County were given a percentage of renewable energy to achieve [by the Government?]. Lincolnshire have more than achieved their target for renewables, via windfarm developments and 'energy from waste' plants etc.

In view of the potential size of the Vattenfall project, it was thought that any plans will end up with the Secretary of State for consideration, rather than at a local County or District planning level (although they will be invited to contribute as statutory consultees).

East Heckington
This project was mentioned by the District Councillor. You may like to study the Inspector's Report to the Secretary of State which makes interesting reading.

Wind Farm at Nocton Fen

Vattenfall lifts lid in Lincs

Swedish utility Vattenfall is investigating a possible 50MW-plus wind farm in the east of England.

The company said today it is in the early stages of development for a project at Nocton Fen in North Kesteven District, Lincolnshire.

http://renews.biz/51825/vattenfall-lifts-lid-in-lincs/

BBC Look North (6.26 am - 14th October 2013)

"An energy company is to investigate the potential for a wind farm in Lincolnshire. Swedish utility company, Vattenfall, says an initial study at Nocton Fen revealed that up to 23 wind turbines could sit on the site. They will spend the next few weeks talking to local communities."

The spokesperson for Vattenfall, Jason Ormiston said:
"Any suggestion of a wind farm of this nature, it's natural that people would have concerns about that... but we are at a very early stage and we want to have that conversation with people, understand what their fears are. Hopefully we can allay those fears and we can do this by listening to people and designing a wind farm that responds to those concerns."

Vattenfall

"Vattenfall's vision is to create a strong and diversified European energy portfolio with sustainable and increased profits, significant growth options and will be among the leaders in developing environmentally sustainable energy production."

Press Release re: Nocton Fen

Vattenfall’s Project Manager Graham Davey said: “Vattenfall is at the very earliest stages of assessing the potential of a wind farm at Nocton Fen. This phase is all about identifying issues and opportunities; that is why we will start by engaging with the local community, local representatives, other key interests and national environmental organisations.”

Nocton Fen - Exploring the Wind Energy Potential

"There will be many opportunities for the community to get involved, share ideas, and talk to the team over the coming months. Information will be circulated as widely as possible locally in the coming weeks. To ensure you stay up to date with the latest news, development and discussions relating to Nocton Fen, please visit and register your interest in the project here."

http://www.vattenfall.co.uk/en/nocton-fen.htm

http://www.vattenfall.co.uk/en/file/2013-10-10-Nocton_Fen_map.pdf_44158122.pdf

Nocton Fen earmarked as potential wind farm

'Feasibility study carried out.'

http://www.lincsfm.co.uk/news/local-news/nocton-fen-earmarked-as-potential-wind-farm/

Wind Farms

This is a link to an earlier blog entry about wind farms. You may be interested in the Press Release from another company, Renewable Energy Systems, which looked at the feasibility of erecting wind turbines on Nocton Fen back in 2004... and decided against it!

Wind Turbine Poll Fiasco

“It is true that large, industrial-scale wind turbines in the open countryside are unpopular. Locally, we had a successful campaign against 36 turbines in Nocton and subsequently I helped draw up the reasonably balanced policy on wind power, first completed about two years ago.  It does not suggest a “blanket ban”, but a more thoughtful approach..."

Councillor Marianne Overton

http://www.lincolnshireindependents.org/windturbinepollfiasco.html

Number of planned new onshore wind farms has doubled since 2011

Record numbers of onshore wind farms have been approved for construction this year as power companies cash in on hundreds of millions of pounds in subsidies.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/10375167/Number-of-planned-new-onshore-wind-farms-has-doubled-since-2011.html

The Winds of Change

'There’s a new wind blowing across Europe. Windpower is predominantly located in Germany, Denmark and Spain, and a recent European Union report predicted wind will power Europe’s demands several times over before 2020.'

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2105601/the_winds_of_change.html

Wind Farms

Blowing winds of change through rural landscapes

An energy firm selected Nocton Fen as a site where it wanted to build a 34-turbine wind farm... this was reported in the Lincolnshire Echo on 19 February 2004. Could this happen again? You bet!

Concern Over Central Lincolnshire Joint Planning Unit [JPU] Wind Farm Policy and Practice

The JPU has identified areas of Central Lincolnshire suitable for large-scale wind farm development. 

It would appear that the selection is based on identifying 'windy areas' [which in effect is most of Central Lincolnshire - see the map included in the Appendices]

Heckington wind farm plans given go-ahead by Government

'The decision by the Department of Energy and Climate Change follows an appeal after the plans were turned down by North Kesteven District Council.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Heckington-wind-farm-plans-given-ahead-Government/story-18090359-detail/story.html

Military radar deal paves way for more wind farms across Britain

'Thousands more wind turbines can now be built across Britain after energy companies struck behind-the-scenes deals to overcome military objections to wind farms.'

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/8726922/Military-radar-deal-paves-way-for-more-wind-farms-across-Britain.html

Farmer tells court 'noise from wind turbines is not a nuisance'

'A FARMER whose land sites three of the wind turbines at the centre of a test case court battle over alleged noise nuisance claims the only sound he heard from them was the "steady swish" of their blades.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Farmer-tells-court-noise-wind-turbines-nuisance/story-12994891-detail/story.html

Green energy... just how green?

A large wind turbine may contain 500 lbs of a 'rare earth', called neodymium, in the manufacture of its magnets. This rare earth is mined in China (predominantly 97%) and distributed throughout the World.

China is expected to reduce exports of rare earth, to protect supply to its own rapidly growing industries, and costs are rising.

Contamination from mining wastes continues to blight many areas.

NGM June 2011

Lincolnshire County Council urged not to turn its back on wind turbines

'Opposition councillors say Lincolnshire's biggest  authority should 'show leadership' in identifying future energy sources... after Conservative-led county council recommends no new large-scale wind farms are built within 2km of homes.'

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Lincolnshire-County-Council-urged-turn-wind/story-18274683-detail/story.html