Author: Sal
Turbines on Cheverton Down Regardless of Planning Outcome (podcast)
Thursday, 26th November, 2009 at 7:01 am, Isle of Wight
Green Issues, News, Planning, podcast
After hearing the news of planning officer’s recommendations to refuse the planning application by Cornwall Light & Power (CL&P) to construct three wind turbines on Cheverton Down, we spoke with Steve Allen the main spokesman for the company.
He told us that the news was a huge disappointment, given expensive extensive (apologies for error, I misheard extensive as expensive) work already put in, but reminded us that planning consent was already in place for three smaller turbines.
When pushed on what CL&P would do if the application was refused at the meeting next week, Mr Allen said there were only two options; to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, or go ahead and build the three smaller turbines.
He stated that “whatever happens at the meeting next week, there would be turbines on Cheverton Down.”
He went on to explain that the previous planning application for the smaller turbines, which has consent, was revised to up date the turbine technology. According to Mr Allen, the newer, larger turbines produce ten times the power of the turbines which currently have consent.
He went on to talk about the environmental impact, the improvements to the scheme and how the current consent has no end date, whereas the new application would only have a life span of 25 years.
He also touches on the socio-economic benefits to the Island and how placement of turbines on the Island would help the R&D facility of Vestas in Cowes.
When we pushed about the options open ti CL&P should the application be refused, he made it very clear there were only two options. To appeal or build the smaller turbines.
Listen to what Mr Allen had to say by clicking on the play button.
Image: benleto under CC BY-SA 2.0
Related posts:
- Cheverton Down Wind Turbines: Cornwall Light and Power Interview Part One (podcast)
We know that there’s disagreement on the Island about if... - Cheverton Down Wind Turbines: Cornwall Light and Power Interview, Part Two (Podcast)
This is following on from the first part of the... - Cheverton Down Wind Turbines: Cornwall Light and Power Interview, Part Six (Podcast)
Hear CL&P response to the questions of whether Cheverton Down... - Cheverton Down Wind Turbines: Cornwall Light and Power Interview, Part Five (Podcast)
Darn, it’s been a few flat out days, which has... - Cheverton Down Wind Turbines: Cornwall Light and Power Interview, Part Three (Podcast)
This is the next edition of the Cheverton Down interview...
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Thanks for this guys. Brilliant.
Good to hear that ‘do nothing’ isn’t an option. Like I said in a previous blog, there WILL be wind turbines on Cheverton Down. Surely it only makes sense to have the most efficent ones rather than less efficent ones.
For crying out loud you nimbys see sense……..
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I think this is wonderful.
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Folks, the planning issues here will actually work as follows; if central government back this move as part of their national policy, it will happen. How? Even though Cheverton Down is designated an AONB, there is enough historical evidence to suggest that whatever the local community feel about the issue will be overidden by home office dictat. We already know there is a two tier planning system, one for government departments, and one for monied corporations. The case for allowing communications masts on council buildings flies in the face of the facts – we simply do not know the long term effects of the more sinister systems, such as the ‘blue light’ TETRA system. There is evidence to more than suggest that this system is poorly researched and hastily introduced. What central government wants, central government gets, no matter what either we or the local council think about the issues. So keep it local, or lose your rights as locals to real local representation.
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So far local representation has seen us reject quieter more efficient turbines that might “scare some horses”, in favour of the louder less efficient type.
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My experts tell me that the turbines for which they have consent at Cheverton are even more useless than the bigger ones about to be refused.
This means they won’t bother putting them up, not enough profit in it see. If you ecomentalists want them up there, you’ll have to buy the land and build them yourselves! How funny. I suppose you could apply to the benefits agency for an emergency loan?
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Shobba (and various aliases) are doing more for the pro-eco cause than anyone else – you really do come over as a nasty piece of work.
You’ve been repeatedly asked to post sources and not opinions and but I’m yet to see any evidence. More hot air coming soon I’m sure…
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