There is a major campaign in the village at present. I haven't seen the community so united against a proposal since the council thought it might be a good idea to build a gipsy camp in Thorney.
What has got everyone so angry? It's wind turbines - there's a proposal to build four turbines in French Drove (between Thorney and Crowland) which was approved in February, but what has really got people excited is a proposal to build eight turbines at Gores farm, just to the west of the village.
An opposition group - Thorney Landscape Protection - has been formed and there are posters all around the village. It seems the vast majority are against the plan.
Some of the rhetoric used by the opponents has been somewhat over-egged. The turbines are described as 415ft high monsters and there's a regular comparison between the height of the turbines and the height of the abbey.
These are the key objections (taken from the Thorney Landscape Protection website):
Visual Impact. The Turbines will be oppressive, over-bearing and totally out of scale and architectural character with the current surroundings and the unique Fenland landscape. Shadow Flicker and Reflection will also be unacceptable.
Noise. The Turbines will create noise pollution and vibration to a currently quiet setting, especially with the Village being located on the receiving side of the generally prevailing south westerly wind.
Ecology & Ornithology. The Turbines will be in close proximity and a threat to the Nene Washes 5.5.5.1. and associated local conservation areas -a site of international importance for many very rare, threatened and protected species.
Heritage. The Development and its close proximity to Thorney will have a negative impact on the character and setting of historic listed buildings in and around the Conservation Village. Views will be impacted to and from the internationally important ancient monument of Flag Fen.
Archaeology. The Development site interferes with the Prehistoric Settlement on Gores Farm.
Public Footpaths. The Development will interfere with and have negative impact upon the unspoilt rural footpaths used by many local residents to both the north eastern and southern boundaries of the proposed development.
Shadow Flicker is a phenomenon where the rotating blade of a turbine casts a shadow. When reflected through a narrow opening (eg a window). It’s claimed this can cause headaches and nausea. A government study says it's not a problem and it's hard to see how such an effect could be an issue unless the turbines were very close to a property.
People have complained about noise and vibration from turbines, but we’re not a quiet village – there’s traffic on the bypass, aircraft, lawnmowers, rooks etc. Holly doesn't like low-level noise such as fans, so she'll probably spend her whole time running around the garden barking (oh, she does that now).
The turbines are claimed to be a threat to birds, especially to the RSPB reserve between here and Whittlesey. The RSPB will object to wind farms where they pose a specific threat to birds (especially migrating flocks), but it hasn't objected here. The threat to birds from wind farms is hugely exaggerated.
The development (and others planned) will certainly have an impact on the landscape. Opponents describe the fens as a unique landscape. This isn't true, there are lots of fenland landscapes in the UK (Kent, Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire for example), but it will change the views around the village. I don't mind wind turbines, I think they have a stark beauty, but I'm not sure I want to see them in every direction. However, if you walk around the boundaries of the village, you can see turbines to the south and east already. There are also electricity pylons everywhere and no-one seems to complain about those.
The opponents are playing the archaeology card as well. There are already turbines (at Whittlesey) clearly visible from Flag Fen so that doesn't really cut any ice. I don't know about prehistoric settlements at Gores Farm, but archaeology rarely stops development. Indeed, development generally allows archaeologists the money and access to dig and investigate sites.
I had to laugh when they talk about unspoiled rural footpaths used by many local residents. The footpath to the south of Gores Farm runs from Whittlesey Road (by Thorney Dyke) to Willow Hall. I’ve never seen anyone on that path, it’s impossible to reach on foot without walking three miles along Whittlesey Road and it brings you out halfway down Willow Hall (with the route back along roads). It’s hardly a pleasant walk. I walk Toneham regularly and rarely see anyone using the footpath. It’s so quiet that swans are now nesting on the Thorney side of the dyke (right next to the path).
It would be nice if we didn’t have to have wind turbines, but we all use electricity (and 15% of our power is now generated from wind). Would people prefer a coal-fired power station or a nuclear power station next to the village? Would people stop using electricity?
I don’t mind that people are against the proposal, but I wish that they’d use sensible arguments and why are they against it? Misinformation? Fear over damage to their house prices? Or is it just a case of “not in my back yard?”
Official website: http://www.goreswindfarm.co.uk/
Opposition group: http://thorneylandscapeprotection.wordpress.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment