Welcome to the Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines website
STOP PRESS
Bickerton turbines threat blown away!
Banks Developments has announced that it is abandoning plans to erect giant wind turbines in Bickerton.
The reason, given in a company statement (see below), is that there is insufficient wind to make a wind power station commercially viable. This is fantastic news for the overwhelming number of residents in Bickerton and the neighbouring parishes who opposed the proposal.
Many thanks to everyone who has supported the campaign to stop this inappropriate project. Particularly our thanks must go to our MP Stephen O'Brien, who has worked tirelessly to help us both at local and national levels.
We very much hope that this is the end of the story. However, this may not necessarily be so.
At Oxheys Farm, near Tarporley, npower erected a wind monitoring mast in February 2005. It was dismantled after a period of about 12 months and little more was heard by the local residents. However, in April 2009, some four years later, it was announced that Cornwall Light & Power were intending to submit a planning application for a wind power station at the same site. The action group opposing this inappropriate development has re-formed and is currently campaigning vigorously to stop it.
Although we have been led to believe that Banks Developments has decided not to proceed on the basis of the data from the wind monitoring mast, this is only one of several factors that developers consider in the initial stages of a wind power station project. Other factors include the cost and availability of capital, subsidies, environmental considerations and opposition from local and national groups.
Hopefully our strategy, supported vigorously by local residents, has played a significant role in persuading Banks Developments to halt this project.
We will be writing to Banks Developments to ask how they intend to close this project off and will then call an Extraordinary General Meeting of our supporters to consider the most appropriate course of action from now on.
This is likely to involve proposals to:
a) Retain a contingency fund which can be used to revitalise the campaign quickly, should another developer decide to submit a similar proposal
b) Return the balance of the donations made by local residents on a "pro rata" basis
We will publish the results of this meeting on our website, so watch this space!
And finally, this project has had a deeply divisive effect. It is very important for the sake of the community that we put the past two years behind us and do whatever we can to reconcile any differences of opinion that this project has caused. We are privileged to live in a very beautiful, tranquil area and need to work together now to preserve it not only for local residents but also the many visitors who value it as we do.
A copy of Banks Developments' news release follows ...
Banks Developments not progressing Bickerton wind farm proposal
After reviewing data gathered from a wind mast at the site of a possible wind farm development in Bickerton, Banks Developments has taken the decision not to progress their plans in the area.
A test wind mast was erected on site in February to review whether the proposed location is suitable for commercial wind farm development.
But now, having analysed data from the mast, alongside additional information for the nearby Met Office station at Shawbury in Shropshire, Banks has concluded that there is not enough wind to allow the development of a commercially viable wind farm.
Rob Williams, Renewables Projects Director at Banks Developments, says: "Turbines can obviously only be situated in areas where there is enough wind to create a certain level of power, and we have always said that we would only progress this scheme at Bickerton if the proposed location met this criterion.
"Whilst we believe the Bickerton site could be developed as a wind farm, meeting the required environmental standards, our analysis of the test mast data has shown that it does not attract the amount of wind needed to produce the requisite amount of energy, so we will now not be taking this proposal any further.
"We will continue our search for good wind farm development opportunities in the Cheshire area, as the region is far from achieving its targets for renewable energy production and the need for renewable, indigenous energy generation continues to grow."
End of Banks Developments' news release.
The purpose of this website ...
... designed by members of the local community, is to explain clearly for the benefit of local residents and visitors to this area ….
The limited benefits of industrial wind power stations
The harmful effects of industrial wind power stations on small rural communities such as Bickerton
… and to seek your help in opposing this development.
As with many things, it’s all a question of balance and in this website we set out to show that the harmful effects of the proposed development far outweigh the limited benefits of an industrial wind power station in Bickerton.
If you share our concerns, please take a few minutes to look at the site and click on the page entitled “What can I do?” to see how you could help.
The stimulus for this new website was the 200ft high wind monitoring mast erected by Banks Developments in Bickerton at the end of January 2009.
According to the developers, the mast has been erected to assess the type of wind on this site. This information will be used to ensure that any planned turbines have an appropriate design. It will also be a key factor when the developer is deciding whether to apply for planning permission for an industrial wind power station.
There are few instances where a developer has gone to the expense of erecting a wind monitoring mast without following up with a planning application for an industrial wind power station. We can assume with some certainty that a planning application will be submitted, probably between May and December 2009.
We believe that such an industrial development is totally inappropriate in an area recognised for its outstanding landscape. The proposed site lies between Bickerton Hill and Cholmondeley Park, two Areas of Special County Value for Landscape, and will be clearly visible to the thousands visitors who walk the Sandstone Trail nearby.
Click hereto view a sketch map showing the approximate location of the wind monitoring mast relative the two Areas of Special County Value for landscape.
More than 200 small rural communities in the UK like Bickerton are being threatened by industrial wind power station developers. The process is well known and well documented. Following the installation of a wind monitoring mast, developers launch a “charm offensive” during which they attempt to promote the benefits of industrial wind power stations and play down the harm they can do to rural communities such as ours. Bearing in mind the enormous profits that developers can make, they spare no expense in mounting exhibitions to “consult” with the local community, sending out mail shots and offering goodwill payments to local organisations.
About Us
“Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines” or SBWT was born in January 2008. We are a membership association served by a committee currently made up of seven local residents. Officers and roles include:
Chairman
Deputy Chairman
Secretary
Deputy Secretary
Treasurer
Press Officer
Webmaster
Our purpose is to protect and conserve the landscape, tranquillity and wildlife of the Bickerton Hill area for the benefit of local residents, local businesses and visitors.
Our immediate aim is to prevent the construction of a large industrial wind turbine power station on a site lying between and very close to Bickerton Hill (belonging to the National Trust) and Cholmondeley Park, both designated Areas of Special County Value for landscape.
Why is SBWT opposing this development?
As we've said already, it's all a question of balance and in this website we set out to show that the harmful effects of the proposed development far outweigh the limited benefits of an industrial wind power station in Bickerton.
Each industrial wind turbine power station has its own particular set of issues which need to be researched thoroughly. SBWT is opposed to the Bickerton proposals because, if approved, they will have a major impact on the lives of residents and visitors to the communities of Bickerton, Cholmondeley, Brown Knowl, Bulkeley and Egerton for at least 25 years. Specifically, such a development would have a harmful impact on:
the local landscape. Although we have no sight yet of the developer's plans, we do know that they are considering up to 5 industrial wind turbines and that the wind turbines proposed by them at another site are 125 metres (410 ft) high. Such wind turbines:
Would dominate the surrounding landscape
Would be almost as high as the Blackpool Tower or the same height as the Euston Tower office block which has 36 storeys
Would stand taller than Bickerton Hill itself
Would draw the eye because of the rotation of the blades (when the wind is blowing). These turbines would be visible from locations up to 20 miles away
the health of local residents - mainly through the noise generated by the turbines (the blade tips travel at speeds of up to 150 mph)
the value of properties in the area
local businesses and employment
birds and possibly other wildlife in the surrounding area
local residents, students at the local school and visitors arising from flicker
road safety, aircraft safety and other factors which we are currently researching
What is SBWT doing?
Our objectives are to ensure that any planning application/appeal for an industrial wind power station in Bickerton is rejected by:
ensuring that local residents and visitors are aware of the issues impacting on them through public meetings, adverts, email newsletters and this website to engage their support. Stephen O'Brien, our local MP is actively supporting our campaign. To read his views, click here.
engaging experienced specialists in the areas of planning, law, landscape, noise and renewable energy to fight our case
raising the money required to fund these specialists and other aspects of our campaign
If you want to know more, please email us at
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show that the harmful effects of the proposed development far outweigh the limited benefits of an industrial wind power station in Bickerton.
show that the harmful effects of the proposed development far outweigh the limited benefits of an industrial wind power station in Bickerton.