13.12.09 Officials cover up wind farm noise report
Civil servants have suppressed warnings that wind turbines can generate noise damaging people's health for several miles around according to an article in The Times on 13th December.
Many thanks to those of you who came along to the meeting at the Heber on the 24th of November.
Councillors from Cheshire West and Chester present were Mike Jones, Neil Ritchie and Ann Wright, the chairperson, who said she was astonished to see such a large turnout on a cold, wet November evening!
Estimates vary, but it would appear that some 150 mainly local residents turned out to listen to the presentations and ensuing questions / discussion.
If you weren't able to attend, the order of play was:
1. PRESENTATION BY BANKS DEVELOPMENTS
This mainly covered targets and planning issues and was met by silence from the audience.
2. PRESENTATION BY STOP BICKERTON WIND TURBINES
Our thanks to Mike Voisey, Charles Hobson and William Wright for their presentation which covered the variability of wind power,the declining CO2 savings, landscape impact, noise, health, impact on employment and several other important topics. The presentation, which included several DVD testimonials from ordinary people whose lives have been affected by industrial wind turbines, was warmly received by those present.
3. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS
Members of the audience asked about twenty questions in total and during the 45 minutes or so allowed, there was only one member of the audience who expressed support for the potential development.
Significant comments from the Banks representatives were:
"We have never put up an anemometer mast and not followed it up with an application for a wind farm"
"We said that we would have a preliminary assessment of the data from the mast in late August / early September. It is now likely to be after Christmas" (they were unable to account for the slippage)
"Our Armistead development has been held up by a statutory appeal"
"We sold off our West Durham wind power station shortly after it was commissioned to an Irish Power Utility"
... and they were unable to give convincing answers to several other questions.
AND AFTER THE MEETING CLOSED
Many members of the audience stopped behind to discuss what they had heard and view our display boards and model.
Many thanks for your support.
3.9.09 - Press Release - Appointment at DECC (The Department of Energy and Climate Change)
David MacKay, Professor in the Department of Physics at Cambridge University and author of the influential book ‘Sustainable Energy - without the hot air' has been appointed Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.
This is excellent news for all of us who sign up for the notion of "Numbers not adjectives" in the debate about energy strategy and particularly industrial wind turbines.
The Chief Scientific Advisor's role is to ensure that the Department's policies and operations, and its contributions to wider Government issues, are underpinned by the best science and engineering advice available.
Professor MacKay said:
"Climate change and secure energy are two of the most urgent issues facing the UK and the global community. The solutions must be rooted firmly in the science and I look forward to advising the Government on how it can help deliver these important goals."
8.11.09 The Wind Farm Scam
"Wind Power is a swindle ... Please read this book and find out why."
David Bellamy
"It was Dr Etherington more than anyone else who opened my eyes to the extraordinary series of illusions on which this new political infatuation with wind energy was based"
Christopher Booker
"The Wind Farm Scam" by John Etherington was published a few weeks ago. It is an excellent book which covers many aspects of industrial wind turbines and which refutes much of the spin put out by the wind energy industry. It is essential reading for everyone who wants to save Bickerton from the proposed industrial wind turbine power station.
You can order a copy from Amazon or obtain a copy from any SBWT committee member for a special price of £6.
26.10.09 Press Release
MEP joins fight to save Cheshire countryside
Charles Hobson, Mike Voisey and Paul Nuttall
A Cheshire MEP has joined a campaign against wind turbines being erected in the Bickerton area.
After meeting members of the action group, Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines, Paul Nuttall has vowed to do all he can to help their campaign.
Durham-based Banks Developments is considering building a cluster of industrial wind turbines on a site overlooked by Bickerton Hill and Cholmondeley Estate and Gardens, two of Cheshire's most popular beauty spots.
Modern turbines stand 125 metres high and local residents are furious about the impact this could have on the surrounding magnificent countryside and on their health and welfare.
"I whole heartedly support the campaigners, not least because wind turbines are an inefficient means of creating energy. The public is being hoodwinked by this witchcraft of the modern age," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP Euro-MP.
"These wind farms are being foisted on us to meet totally unrealistic renewable energy targets set by unelected EU bureaucrats. They are not the answer to our energy problem.
"Not only are they inefficient, they ruin the lives of those living nearby and are visually overbearing. I was horrified to learn from Mike Voisey, chairman of SBWT, that there are fears that the nearest homes coud be well under one kilometre from the turbines.
"Other countries say that homes must be at least two kilometres away from the nearest turbine. The noise that these monsters make, particularly at night, is unbelievable and I know of people having to move out of their homes because they just could not sleep.
"Bickerton is set in some of the finest countryside in Cheshire and the local authorities are spending time and money encouraging tourism. How can that possibly tie in with ugly wind turbines?
"Developers make mega-bucks out of wind farms and they pull out all the stops to get their way but the voice of residents must be heard," said Mr Nuttall. SBWT chairman Mike Voisey said: "We very much appreciate the support already shown by Paul Nuttall. He has a clear appreciation of problems suffered by neighbours of wind farms and is not dazzled by their claimed benefits. "There is growing concern throughout Europe about the negative effects of wind turbines and we are pleased that our interests will be represented in the European parliament."
15.7.09 VORTEX Victory!
Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire and Shadow Minister, was delighted to hear the news that the Planning Inspectorate had today dismissed the appeals by Nuon to build a wind farm at Bearstone near Market Drayton. Local people formed the pressure group Vortex and raised a large amount of money to do serious research, producing well worked through evidence.
Owen said "Bill Cash, MP for Stone and I were united in our opposition and worked closely with Vortex, all of us giving evidence to the Public Inquiry.
This huge project which would have been a disaster for the local area with long lasting damage done to the natural environment, the local economy, property values, wildlife as well as my constituents' health and well being.
I congratulate Vortex for all their hard work in achieving this fantastic result. It was great to work with such a committed group of people who researched the details so thoroughly. This was a great team effort; we won on hard facts not emotion.
This result means it will be much harder for other damaging schemes to be put forward. It is rare for a small group to take on a powerful interest backed by national government policy and win. Many congratulations to all those involved!"
18.6.09 Bulkeley and Ridley give Wind Turbines the Thumbs Down
On 18th June, Bulkeley & Ridley Parish Council invited members of the Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines (SBWT) Committee and Banks Developments Ltd to give presentations outlining the arguments for and against the proposals for a wind power station at Bickerton. The public meeting was attended by about 50 residents from Bulkeley, Ridley and Bickerton.
The Banks representative declined the invitation to give a presentation but offered to answer questions from the audience.
Three members of the SBWT Committee delivered a carefully researched, evidence-based presentation including video clips describing the relatively minor benefits of on-shore wind power stations and the profound, negative impacts on rural communities.
A poll which included responses from a form delivered by the Parish Council to Bulkeley and Ridley residents prior to the meeting and a show of hands by the Bulkeley and Ridley Parishioners at the meeting resulted in 28 votes against a wind power station at Bickerton, 2 votes for and 1 don't know.
Many thanks to our neighbours and friends in Bulkeley and Ridley for their support.
15.6.09 Letter from Banks Developments Ltd
In April, Banks Developments wrote to us suggesting that we meet with them so that they could give us an update on the situation. We wrote back with a list of 21 questions and received their response on 15th June 2009
The main points arising from their response are:
1.They were unable or unwilling to answer some 50% of the questions on the grounds that it is too early to provide detailed answers.
2. Wind monitoring will be for at least 6 months. An initial assessment will be made in late August / early September of this year.
3.If a decision is made to go ahead with the project and if an application is approved, it is likely to be 3 to 5 years to the delivery of electricity to the grid.
To see the full text of the questions and answers, click here.
18.06.09 Stolen Banners
At least six banners displayed by our supporters were stolen late last week. The banners, which were on show in private property, are about 1.5 metres in length and have the words Say NO to wind turbines printed on them.
Most of the banners were taken from properties in Long Lane, Bickerton, and on the A534 Wrexham Road. A number of A4 posters have also been taken from gate posts and garden fencing.
Some banners were paid for out of campaign funds while others were bought privately by homeowners.
Said SBWT chairman Mike Voisey: “We are extremely disappointed that someone should see fit to remove the banners. Whoever is responsible needs to know that they are breaking the law and that in the event that a culprit is identified we will press charges.”
For further details see the Chester Chronicle article on 18th June:
"Protest group Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines shocked as thieves attempt to sabotage campaign"
7.04.09 Community Meeting at Bickerton Village Hall
About 150 local residents attended the meeting at Bickerton Village Hall on 7th April. The slides and videos which they saw left them deeply shocked about the negative impacts on landscape, noise levels, health and property prices. During the ensuing discussions, not a single person spoke in favour of the proposed industrial wind power station and we received many pledges of support.
7.04.09 Press Release
Rallying Call to Defeat Turbine Threat.
Communities throughout South Cheshire are being urged to contribute to a fighting fund to help defeat a wind turbine threat in Bickerton.
The call to dig deep came at the end of a passion-fuelled community meeting at Bickerton Village Hall on Tuesday. A capacity crowd heard that opposition was so strong that £80,000 had already been pledged to a campaign being run by action group Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines (SBWT).
But chairman Mike Voisey warned villagers that a further £50,000 would have to be found to ensure that the fight was successful. He emphasised the money was essential to meet the fees of a top team of lawyers and professional advisors already signed up by SBWT, and to pay campaign expenses.
Tension has been mounting in the area since a wind monitoring mast was erected in February on land adjoining Long Lane. Although no planning application for turbines has been made yet, the developers, Banks Developments, has said it will apply to build a cluster of industrial sized turbines on the site if conditions are favourable.
Fears expressed at the meeting, which was attended by hundreds and overflowed into an adjacent room and corridors, included health problems caused by noise and flicker from the turbine blades. Action group member William Wright told the audience of research which showed 67% of nearby residents suffered sleeplessness and that the noise could be likened to having a vacuum cleaner in the bedroom.
There was also public worry that narrow country lanes would be widened and straightened to accommodate the delivery of the turbines, which may be as tall as 125 metres. Construction vehicles could be up to 50 metres long.
The proposed site is less than a mile from Bickerton School and there are fears that traffic will be encouraged to speed up if the roads are widened. "This is going to be an accident waiting to happen," warned Andrew Hunter, who has two children at the school. "It will be like building a new bypass."
Another concern was the financial loss faced by local businesses if turbines are erected in the area. The site is overlooked by two of Cheshire's most popular tourist attractions, Bickerton Hill and Cholmondeley Estate, and there is evidence that visitor numbers will drop if the landscape becomes industrialised.
Predictions of a drastic drop in house prices also provoked public debate. A survey, undertaken by SBWT shows there are 160 residential properties within 1.5 miles of the proposed site which could lose up to 20% of their sale price or become unsaleable if the turbines go ahead.
Calling on the community to unite, Mr Voisey called for donations to the fighting fund and also outlined work which volunteers could carry out such as events co-ordination, planning and landscape research and wildlife surveys.
To the approval of the audience, he declared: "The team is committed to fighting this at local planning level, at appeal level before the Planning Inspectorate and to judicial review if necessary. We cannot let the natural heritage of South Cheshire be destroyed in this way."
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Voisey said: "Feedback from the meeting has been entirely positive and it is evident that we have the backing of the vast majority of the local community. Feelings are running very high. It is up to us to continue our strategy to win by hiring the most effective and experienced professionals in the country."
17.03.09 Press Release Action Group Steps Up Campaign
An action group fighting a potential threat from a wind turbine development is to update local residents on its progress and consult them about future plans.
Stop Bickerton Wind Turbines (SBWT) is to hold a community meeting at Bickerton Village Hall on Tuesday April 7th at 7pm. The group wants to outline its current achievements, which include fund raising and the selection of a team of professional advisors.
The meeting will allow residents and local business owners to voice their concerns over controversial plans which could lead to industrial wind turbines being built on one of Cheshire's most spectacular beauty spots. A scale model of a state-of-the-art turbine in comparison to local buildings and landscape will be on show at the meeting.
Although a planning proposal for turbines has not yet been put forward, developers erected a 60m wind monitoring mast on land near to Bickerton School in January. The mast was subsequently taken down and repositioned after it was found to be in the wrong place.
The site is in a bowl overlooked by Bickerton Hill, Bulkeley Hill and Cholmondeley Estate, three of Cheshire's most popular tourist attractions. The Sandstone Trail, which attracts thousands of walkers from all over the country, also passes nearby.
SBWT Chairman Mike Voisey said: "Our action group remains committed to fighting this project, which continues to go ahead despite overwhelming objections from most local people, tourists and business people and the concerns of our democratically elected councillors.
"We would like to use the meeting as an opportunity to update local residents of our successful campaign and hear their views. We would also like to outline our future strategy.
"One good point about the erection of the monitoring mast is that its height can now be fully appreciated and people can understand the threat to the area. Modern onshore wind turbines are twice the height of the mast, so this gives a very good indication of just how overpowering they would be."
Banks Developments says that the mast will monitor the strength and type of wind in the area and its information will be used to determine whether the site is suitable.
A planning application for the mast was refused by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council planning officers over a year ago on the grounds that the construction would be visually intrusive and detrimental to the character and appearance of the landscape. The application was allowed on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate in Bristol.
SBWT's campaign against the planning application was backed by more than 400 protest letters and a 171-name petition. Objectors included Eddisbury MP Stephen O'Brien, who has pledged his continuing support.
Recent media coverage
Some of the relevant press articles are listed below. Click on the appropriate link to view.
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