August 2011

Met Mast Planning Application

On the 16th August the Sedgemoor planning committee passed Broadview's application to erect a meteorological mast on the proposed wind farm site south of Rooksbridge. A member of the NoPilrow committee made a good, articulate and well reasoned 3 minute talk on why this mast should be turned down. Unfortunately the application was passed unanimously.

It was a result we were expecting since the application had been supported both by the Parish Council and by the senior planning officer. In addition as you will be aware we were not supported by our local ward councillor, Mr Andrew Gilling, who was present at the meeting. Our other councillor Mr Bob Filmer as chairman of the planning committee was not in a position to speak for us.

We now have to move on to the main task ahead which is to oppose the main application for the wind farm which is expected in January 2012 and in some sense the Met Mast could prove to be helpful. By that I mean the erection of a 70m mast will finally give residents some real idea of the scale of this project. Everyone will now be made aware that when they see the mast, even if not directly from their homes, it represents only half the height of the proposed turbines. In addition the width is a tiny fraction of the width of the final towers -approx 250 - 300m (12" - 15") at the base in contrast to the 12m -15m (40' to 50') diameter of the turbines.

We hope that this may be a wake up call to those residents who still have doubts about opposing these turbines.

One item of good news yesterday was in learning that the Wells Conservative Constituency issued a damning newsletter opposing this wind farm proposal for the area (click here for details) and it is to be hoped that those conservative councillors who voted for the Met Mast will take heed of this when the question of full planning is brought up. Your committee will be monitoring this closely.

Please continue to support us in opposing this wind farm and any help you can give will be very welcome. Contact through our website.