Wednesday 3 October 2012

Thorington Windfarm Update on Labour Admin's refusal to support

I have been inundated with e-mails from residents about their fury over these proposed turbines..

Some are even more furious today at the comments made by councillor Sandy Martin in the local paper today. I quote;


“Before any approval is given by Babergh, PfR will have to demonstrate, via an Environmental Impact Assessment, that there will not be a significant impact on local residents.
“That is only right and, while we are confident there will be no significant effect, we are not part of the planning process.”
SIT campaigners hope that the proposals can be stopped before they reach the planning application stage.
SIT campaigner Peter Evans said: “We’d rather it not go that far. We feel there’s overwhelming evidence that it would be unbearable to people living there.
“We want Ipswich Borough Council to meet us as soon as possible so we can present our findings.”

Excuse me - 'No significant effect'?  is this for real?  And how are they measuring 'significant'? What has to happen for there to be significant? SIT can demonstrate what most normal people would call significant.

There is only one reason someone would say that - They have not listened to the evidence that was offered directly from the mouths of Kessingland residents that tells us everything we need to know about significant impact. Shame on his insensitivity.
Labour councillors are so busy trying to blame the previous administration, despite the fact that I have constantly said that we did not agree the actual site, only an in principal agreement for one to be built on a suitable site and (in capitals so that they might finally understand)

I HAVE CHANGED MY MIND ABOUT THE IMPACT THIS WILL HAVE ON OUR IPSWICH RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THOSE IN BABERGH, FOLLOWING NEW INFORMATION FROM KESSINGLAND.and SIT

I make a promise right now to the residents of SW Ipswich (and of Belstead Village, Pinewood and Thorington)  that I will help them fight this every step of the way. 
And I hope the people of Ipswich, wherever they are, care enough about their neighbours to not allow a monstrosity of  2 x 130 meter high wind turbines to be only 400 meters or so from a house. Try thinking about that in your back garden.
A poll in the EADT is showing 67% Ipswich residents are against this so we know we have them on our side.
More to come. This blog will now be dedicated only to this subject until SIT are taken seriously by all necessary parties and if you want to sign a petition then get in touch.



Tuesday 2 October 2012

Thorington wind farm latest

Back in 2008 I was a part of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat executive running Ipswich Borough Council when a decision was taken to look for sites to build wind turbines. This project was proposed by our coalition partners, the Liberal Democrats, but also fitted with guidance from the Government that required local councils to find ways to reduce the carbon dioxide produced per capita in the community as well as a reduction in carbon dioxide from the councils own operations.

At the time I raised my serious concerns about any negative impact on wildlife, particularly bird life, and sought assurances on the efficacy of impact assessments and due diligence with regard to project management. The original report was not site specific, it was about the principles of providing renewable energy.

Since that report, some four years ago, work has progressed on identifying a site and finding a partner. The council chose to partner with Partnership for Renewables, who have now proposed two wind turbines on land owned by Ipswich Borough Council at Thorington Hall. Once the proposals began to crystallise, I began to become more and more concerned that my original concerns were now being ignored by the new administration running the council; Labour took power in May 2011. 

As more information has become available about the effect these turbines will have on the local community, my position has solidified against the scheme. I am sure I am not the only person who was initially in favour of wind turbines, only to become much more concerned as details of the nuisance they are causing in Kessingland become clear. We do not want a "Kessingland" problem here in South West Ipswich.

I was elected to represent the views of the people who live in Stoke Park, and that is what I intend to do. I am consulting local residents to find out what their specific concerns are and I am trying to find an escape route for Ipswich Borough Council to get out of this unwanted project.

The noise nuisance, the "flicker" and the health concerns have me convinced that the best place to build these turbines is in the North Sea. Offshore not onshore. It is time Ipswich Borough Council withdraws from this project and does not try to impose these unwanted turbines on those of us who live in the South West of the town.