June 2012

'Rising costs won't blow Burnham wind farm plan off course' - developer (28th June, 2012)

Latest update from Broadview, please click here

The comments by Ollie Buck (Broadview Energy) in Burnham on Sea.com, are no more than what was expected by the majority of local residents. It simply reiterates all the propaganda that has been issued previously. As an instance the phrase "next few weeks" has been in constant use since last November.

If it has any merit at all, it is to finally show that Broadview, like the greater majority of those responsible for these monstrous developments, have not the slightest intention of listening to local views in anyway at all. Their whole consultation process has been nothing more than a box tickiing exercise to show that they have filled in the correct forms and given lip service to the guidelines laid down by Government. It has been a dictatorial approach rather than a consultative one.

Broadview have tried to make a virtue of reducing the number of turbines to four from six and reducing their heights from 140 to 130 metres high. The first factor is based purely on the site parameters and the second not only makes little difference to the visual/environmental impact but is also perhaps a commercial/ financial decision forced upon them. Also it is believed by NoPilrow, that this present configuration was in their minds from the start.

If one ignores those in the area who will benefit financially from this intrusion on our beautiful countryside then supporters of this potential development almost certainly represent far less than 5% of all parishioners (also indicated during the local survey undertaken by locals that are not linked to the NoPilow committee).

It is now abundantly clear from so much recent national coverage of the wind farm industry that this gravy train has finally been seen for the financial scam it is - just another way of moving money out of the pockets of the majority into the pockets of the very rich. Even genuine believers who fully support current renewable energy initiatives have been as much victims of these speculators' interests as everyone else.

There is no doubt that the whole "green" basis upon which these renewable fiascoes have flourished is now considered seriously and almost certainly fatally flawed. First it was "global warming" and when not a single predictive happening took place this became "climate change". When even this scenario failed to live up to expectations we now have the Rio conference saying that everyone must believe in "sustainable development". In other words we have gone from an initial name that vague though it was at least gave some hope of scientific checking to a phrase that covered all aspects, positive or negative, with regard to the climate/weather, and finally to a catch-all rendering that covers every possible outcome about every possible happening.

For those threatened by a wind farm development and the rest who are paying these subsidised corporate welfare charges it simply means that if things do not change we remain in a lose-lose situation whilst the other side keeps its money making win-win position

Subsidies NoPilrow Press Release (18th June, 2012)

It is now clear from numerous reports that the government are finally taking heed of the views of the vast majority of the British public affected by these wind turbines. Not only do these monsters despoil beautiful countryside but it is now overwhelmingly apparent that they are inefficient and subsidised to such an extent that they are becoming one of the root causes of the increase in fuel poverty in this country. Our view is not only should all these subsidies be scrapped but this should happen much sooner than 2020 otherwise all we will see is a mad scramble by profit motivated companies intent only on taking all they can whilst it is there to take.

Like all other wind energy companies seeking to batten on the generous subsidies paid for by consumers Broadview Energy will now surely be aware that the tide has turned against this particular “scam”. The overwhelming local opposition to their proposed planning application, the recent decisions on the Huntspill wind farms and the reduction, and later removal, of generous subsidies paid for by all of us through out energy bills means that this particular gravy train is finally coming to a halt.

Wind turbines do very little if anything to reduce global carbon emissions. Without subsidies they cannot and never will support themselves financially and now like most other countries we in Britain are finally if somewhat belatedly realising this. The people of East Brent, Rooksbridge and the surrounding countryside have lived with this threat for a year now and we would like to think that the company will finally get the message and withdraw their proposition and give the villages and people back their peace of mind. Life for most people at the moment is stressful enough without the shadow of 130m turbines hanging over us all.

Please click here for news item on Burnham.on.sea.com

Image below shows a new NoPilrow produced montage looking from Crook Peak