May 2013                                                

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NoPilrow's initial response to Boadviews appeal

Broadview Energy entered an appeal on 1st May 2013 against Sedgemoor District Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for the erection of four 130m high turbines at Pilrow, Rooksbridge in the parish of East Brent.

The refusal was based on two clear grounds. Firstly that the turbines “represent an unacceptable visual intrusion into the landscape … and are contrary to National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 114 and Policy D4 and D14 of the Sedgemoor District Core Strategy”. Secondly that SDC were “unable to conclude that there will not be a significant effect upon bird population sited in in the Severn Estuary”.

On the first stated ground SDC planners were supported by statutory consultants including Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency together with representation from the National Trust and the SCC Landscape Officer. The second stated case was also the view of the RSPB and whilst Broadview were given the opportunity to carry out further survey work, and indeed did a series of radar studies over a number of nights, they have failed to produce any fresh data supporting their application on this issue. The inference is obvious.

From the Broadview Energy website it would appear that their spokesman and project manager for this site is basing the appeal on the need “to keep the lights on” Obviously he has no answer to the genuine grounds of refusal submitted by the Sedgemoor planners.

This is a complete farce.

During the recent severe spring cold spell lasting over a month, and to a certain extent still with us, electrical energy supplied by wind farms throughout the UK amounted to an average of less than 25% of their potential output and at times for considerable periods was reduced to less than 2% of possible output. At the time of writing wind energy is producing less than 10% of its possible output and we are buying from the French nuclear industry twice as much as that supplied by wind turbines at inflated prices.

The figure of wind output quoted are for wind farms throughout the UK and include the windier areas of Scotland, Northern England, the Welsh mountains and all offshore capacity. This area of Somerset has nowhere near the average wind speeds of these others as Broadview’s own wind speed data clearly shows.

Wind energy will never do anything to keep the “lights on” because of their inefficiency and intermittent output.

Pilrow Wind Farm Appeal Lodged by Broadview

Less than a month since Sedgemoor Planners Department rejected the Wind Farm planning application submitted by developer Broadview, they have lodged an appeal with the Governments Planning Inspectorate (on 1st May). Click here for further details.

As expected Broadview have not respected the wishes of the local residents.