|
Energy Campaign |
| News |
Smaller Wind Farm given green lightBy Jean Saunders, Oxfordshire Friends of the EarthAt a special meeting of the Vale of the White Horse District Council's planning committee on 19 April 2004, a decision was made to refer the planning application to the Secretary of State to decide the fate of the more powerful wind turbines at Westmill Farm, Watchfield.Despite the Conservative group's best efforts to scupper the permitted scheme from going ahead, the good news is that the five Vestas 850kw machines finally got the all clear for development along with the small electrical sub-station. No vote was taken about whether the Bonus 1.3MW turbines should be used instead (last time it was 8 against and 7 for) but this time it seemed that the vote would go the other way as one of the Lib Dem councillors, who voted against the plan before, was wobbling the other way. The Bonus application will be referred to the Secretary of State on the grounds of national interest. Chances are that the Government Office for the South East will refer it back to council and they will then need to hold another meeting to decide. If Government/GOSE do decide to call-in the planning application, they may ask for a public inquiry. All of this is just wasting more time and in the meantime, the effects of climate change are getting worse and there are still no renewable energy projects in the area. |