Trimingham Radar Station.; PHOTO: ANTONY KELLY
North Norfolk District Council asks Unity Wind Ltd to withdraw North Walsham wind-turbine application
Friday, May 25, 2012
9:48 AM
North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) has asked supporters of a community wind turbine for North Walsham to withdraw their planning application because of objections from the MoD, Norwich Airport and the National Air Traffic Services.
Senior planning officer Geoff Lyon made the unexpected announcement at the end of a packed 90-minute public meeting last night to discuss Unity Wind Ltd’s application for a community turbine, up to 120m tall, on land east of Cromer Road.
Mr Lyon said the three bodies, which are among a number of consultees on the application, had concerns about air safety and interference with the RAF radar at Trimingham. NNDC would not therefore be able to recommend approval of the plan and had asked Unity Wind to resubmit it, if the problems were resolved.
Speaking straight after the meeting, Hetty Selwyn, a director of Unity Wind, said they would seek a meeting with NNDC to find a way forward and did not accept that the MoD’s objections were insurmountable since government policy supported wind power.
About 200 people attended the sometimes-heated meeting, called by North Walsham Town Council to hear arguments for and against the scheme which the town council’s planning committee is due to discuss at 6.15pm on Tuesday, May 29.
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21 comments
Keith S Thank you, I'm glad you now see things in our intelligent and non nimby ways. it has been a hard slog, but we convinced you in the end, many thanks. See you offshore!
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windup
Monday, May 28, 2012
Keith S. Can I take your unexpected silence to mean that you now understand that those of us who are against the N Walsham turbine, and any other land based wind turbine, are NOT against renewable energy, NOT nimby's (I won't stoop to capitals for the nimby acronym!) and that you now fully understand that the only place for wind turbines is offshore, and in considerable quantities where the objections to any onshore installations become largely irrelevant.... noise...wildlife...light flicker...etc...ect. Also where, by the way, it happens to be windy enough to bother in the first place? And, by the way, I still couldn't see the N Walsham one from where I live!
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windup
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Stephen I'll try and explain. I think there are two issues. It would interfere with Norwich airport radar, and it may shield a radio signal for Heathrow approaches. Height (for once!) is not the issue.
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Windless
Saturday, May 26, 2012
i thought the minimum hight of aircraft to fly near any person or structure was 500ft so why are norwich airport saying it would interfere with national air traffic services which to me means landing approaches ?? just an innocent question again
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stephen watson
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Keith S with regards to your NIMBY jibe to anyone who dissagrees with the wind turbine issue at North Walsham, if instead of a wind turbine, a nuclear power plant was being proposed, would, using your PURILE jibe, ie NOT IN MY BACK YARD all local opponents be NIMBYS ? or does the criteria change? I await your reply!!!!
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proudtobeaNIMBY
Friday, May 25, 2012
Keith S You really couldn't be more wrong, I am NOT against renewables, some of my work is done in the wind farms, and tidal turbines offshore. I designed a tracked underwater vehicle to do the cable tie-ins and other installation work., currently working off Newcastle. I wouldn't want to see one in Trunch, or, indeed, anywhere else onshore, as it is fundamentally the wrong place to put them. This is absolutely nothing to do with nymbyism, but all to do with placing renewable generation systems such as wind turbines intelligently. The only solution is lots and lots of them, ALL offshore, not even in Trunch! Oh, and BTW, I wouldn't see it from here either!
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windup
Friday, May 25, 2012
Sayitasitis - as NIMBY is an acronym it should be in capital letters! Your reasons for arguing its building are cover for your real reason, you simply don't want to see it out of your window. You'd not careless about it being built in say Trunch where you couldn't see it. I hope it is built, we need to consider the future today and both sides of the argument, not just one.
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KeithS
Friday, May 25, 2012
So after so long, and previous consultation, it appears (by no surprise) those that had previously consented, now say NO!!! Mind you, if you read the DRIVEL printed in the 'North Walsham Times' which states that this turbine will cause the sun to flicker all day!!!! And be so noisy it will be heard all over the town!!!! It is no wonder that anybody wants to be associated with this fictitious garbage. When are people actually going to get realistic and treat this application fairly, not based on incorrect facts, surely the majority of people should be listened to, those that have not based their knowledge on pie in the sky concerns about a project which appears to be some distance from any neighbouring property. I work near other turbines and hear no noise, no the sun flickering besides me all day! Even NNDC are trying to distance themselves from this printed material, as they have a duty to base the case on true facts, as with any planning. I would strongly urge people to base their “foragainst” on proper evidence, rather than merely incorrect hear say.
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Garfield57
Friday, May 25, 2012
Andy If you run the gas generators on Shale Gas, you don't need the wind turbines at all!
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windup
Friday, May 25, 2012
Even this government recognises that wind turbines have their limitations and will result in more gas gernerators than we currently have. Wind generation will not stop the lights going out but it will drive up the cost of energy for us all. Make the heavily subsidised wind firms erect gas generators wherever they put up on shore turbines at their own expense to the equivalent of the notional output of the turbines. Therefore no new power lines required and who could possibly object?
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andy
Friday, May 25, 2012
It is reassuring that three government agencies consider the safety of our airways and the security of our country more important than one community wind turbine which it appears the community does not actually want. It's a pity that the Government continues to bury its head in the sand on this issue and does not seem to have the ability to convince the British public that wind power, with all its associated problems, is part of the answer to our energy problems. Are you disillusioned by rising electricity prices, over dependence on the “green” dream [especially uneconomical and inefficient wind farms] and the destruction of our countryside then please object to the Government by GOOGLING “E-PETITION 22958″ and following the link. Please pass this message on to Councillors, members of your community and anyone else you know to persuade them to sign up too. If you are really concerned about wind turbines please write a letter promoting this petition to your to the EDPNNN.
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David Ramsbotham
Friday, May 25, 2012
We have a cheap source in energy if we can use the ether suppled by Archant.
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andy
Friday, May 25, 2012
It is reassuring that three government agencies consider the safety of our airways and the security of our country more important than one community wind turbine which it appears the community does not actually want. It's a pity that the Government continues to bury its head in the sand on this issue and does not seem to have the ability to convince the British public that wind power, with all its associated problems, is part of the answer to our energy problems. Are you disillusioned by rising electricity prices, over dependence on the “green” dream [especially uneconomical and inefficient wind farms] and the destruction of our countryside then please object to the Government by GOOGLING “E-PETITION 22958″ and following the link. Please pass this message on to Councillors, members of your community and anyone else you know to persuade them to sign up too. If you are really concerned about wind turbines please write a letter promoting this petition to your to the EDPNNN.
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David Ramsbotham
Friday, May 25, 2012
Keith S. We all know how to spell the N word now, no need to use capitals. Try getting your head round this. There are no tidal turbines planned for the Norfolk Broads, mostly because there's no tide. Putting one land based turbine where it's simply not windy enough is equally stupid. Putting them offshore, in large numbers, where it is windy is sensible. Then the offshore ones will look after your 12 hrs' day power cut worries. We're not against renewable energy.
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windup
Friday, May 25, 2012
But Angel however nice anyone thinks they are, if they stick up high enough they can affect air safety. Which come to think of it might be a good reason for rejecting the site at Hemsby which may be close to the corridor for helicopter flights from North Denes. A piddling bit of electricity is not worth risking national security and air traffic safety.
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Daisy Roots
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wind Turbines come in all shapes & sizes - design patterns for some are available free for communities to build themselves - via Open Source Ecology. In Germany, communities are installing a diverse range of renewable power generators - which allows people 100% Green Power. (Some of the renewable plant are small enough to bypass planning - and are moveable too!! - In fact, North Walsham could recycle organic waste & produce its own Green power, Electricity, and BioGas from waste.)
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AnArkAngel
Friday, May 25, 2012
So NIMBYs are you willing to have your power cut for 12 hours every day (say the evening during peak use) as the ailing power network fails to meet our ever growing needs? No I didn't think so, yet again someone else's problem.
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KeithS
Friday, May 25, 2012
Hmmm...didn't all the aforementioned bodies ,Mod etc, make assessments some time ago, the outcome of which was no objections?
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onlymytruth
Friday, May 25, 2012
The arrogance of the wind turbine people is almost beyond belief. They appear to beleave that nothing must stand in the way of wind power and the massive subsidy from tax payers they will receive.
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andy
Friday, May 25, 2012
So, three objections from three organisations directly concerned with Flight, and National Safety and still these people rush headlong with their unpopular cause. Score of 88.8% against in the NNDC application submissions this morning. And all for possibly 400Kw of power at enormous cost, both capital and subsidy to your utility bills! You couldn't make it up.
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windup
Friday, May 25, 2012
Yes, Government policy does well support wind power, but not necessarily when it's a stone's throw away from one of the main contributors to the recognised air picture and defence of the United Kingdom! Unity Wind can jog on if you ask me!
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Ben Bullen
Friday, May 25, 2012