Newsletter Number Six. March 2006.

The SoS Newsletter is produced to keep the communities of Aston Ingham, Aston Crews, Gorsley, Kilcot and Linton informed about the status of the 2 x 56 metre (183ft) Wind-Turbines, each the height of Nelson’s column which are proposed at Withymoor Farm, (grid reference SO:674. 241). We also aim to provide some general information about wind turbines.

The Continuing Story.
Nick Brown the CEO of Green-Amps says he is about to file the planning application for the 2 turbines at Withymoor Farm. If correct, so much for his promised second public meeting at Aston Ingham Village Hall. We are lobbying for a senior representative of Herefordshire County Council Planning Department to come along and talk to local residents about the issue of wind turbines in the near future. In the meantime we understand the planners have not heard anything from Mr Brown since September 2005.

It has also emerged utility companies have long standing legal rights, dating back to 1853, to undertake “permitted development”, which mean they don’t have to apply for planning permission each time they want to build or alter structures on their land. This requires more research but it may have major implications for all of us if land at Withymoor Farm with planning permission for 2 turbines was subsequently sold to Green Amps or another electricity supplier.

Renewable Energy: The Alternatives to Wind Turbines.
There are now a wide range of mainstream energy choices and what’s more there are grants available to help us pay for them. April sees the launch of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Low Carbon Building Programme, a £300M fund picking up from the Clear Skies initiative, which promotes renewable electricity sources and reduced carbon emissions. The fund offers householders grants and advice on renewable energy. The technology is widely available; the costs of purchase and installation are coming down and will be offset by substantial savings in your energy bills. Various renewable energy sources are available to the domestic user: Solar and photovoltaic panels, ground-source heat pumps and biomass (fuel from organic materials). Useful Contact Numbers,
Solar Trade Association 01908 442290. http://www.solartradeassociation.org.uk/
Green Shop Solar 01452 770629, http://www.greenshop-solar.co.uk/
British Photovoltaic Association 01908 442291 http://www.pv-uk.org.uk/
Ground Source Heat Pump Club 01908 665555. http://www.gshp.org.uk/

What the Papers Say. (Sub titled “More Hot Air! Mr Brown: a major cause of Global warming.”)

Turbine plans back on track after hitch (The Forester 9th March 2006)
Plans for eight wind turbines should be submitted to the district council later this month after the project was delayed by a funding hitch. A bank which was backing the scheme changed its mind, delaying the scheme for two-and-a half months. But now new investors have come forward to help fund the turbines – two of which are planned for Rodley, four near Lydney and two at Withymoor farm between Gorsley and Aston Ingham.
Green Amps, the firm behind the project, hopes to submit the planning applications by the end of this month, and if granted it is thought the 43 metre high turbines could be built by May.
Chief executive Nick Brown said he had hoped to submit the applications in January and is hopeful the projects will go ahead.
He said: “One of our backer banks has reneged on us which practically stopped our progress.
“We had to look for alternative funding to bridge the gap which we have now done.
“We are now about to file our planning applications”

Turbines – They Can’t Be Stopped (Gloucestershire Echo 10th March 2006)
Campaigners have been told they don’t stand a chance of stopping turbines popping up across the Gloucestershire countryside. Nick Brown, chief executive of Green Amps wants to build 28 of them by the summer. Despite opposition from campaigners, he says Cotswold District Council won’t be able to stop him.
The energy boss says he’s got “pre-planning clearance” from 62 groups including aviation experts, radio operators, biodiversity groups and environmental organisations.
He says this, combined with a regional and national policy supporting wind turbines means planning authorities won’t be able to turn his applications down.
Mr Brown said: “We have to be seen to have contacted consultants to save the local planning authorities doing the work themselves. “Because of the national and regional policy on turbines, the bottom line is that they have little option but to put them through. “I’ve made it clear that on all applications that are rejected I will go to appeal. “Committees know that if they go to appeal it will cost them and they can’t afford it, so there would have to be extraordinary circumstances for them to be turned down. “In reality it’s little more than a rubber-stamping exercise”
Mr Brown added “Should a small minority be in a position to derail a project that’s in the interests of a wider community? “The democratic process says everybody is entitled to their say but we’re talking about a much wider issue in terms of climate change.
Rod Francis, who lives in Church House Sevenhampton, has been protesting against turbines planned for nearby Brockhampton. He said “there is no such thing as pre-planning clearance. It’s a piece of fantasy on his part. It’s blatant scaremongering.
“The planning people at Cotswold District Council are a bit miffed at this situation because they haven’t been involved in consultation” A spokeswoman for the district council said: "We haven’t said we would support the proposal or otherwise." “Each application will be considered on its own basis and a decision made accordingly. The cost of an appeal is never a factor in deciding the future of an application”
Mr Brown said applications should be made by the end of the month, but they have been stalled because he has had to make environmental assessments of each site. He plans to put pairs of turbines in Twyning, Somerford Keynes, Fairford, Hardwike, Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-water, Upper Rissington, Coln St Aldwyns, Stinchcombe, Brockhampton and Longborough.

A Big Thank You.
To all the helpers who put the Newsletter together, for you continuing support, sending in the ideas and articles, printing and delivering nearly 300 newsletters. Without you the task would be impossible.

The Action Group leading the SOS campaign is chaired by Jane Bradney (01989 750862). Other members are Steven Burns, Chris Tormey (01989 720861).and Lesley Rackley (01989 720857).

If you are interested in helping fight this proposal please ring Martin or Jane Bradney on 01989 750862. hvhac@aol.com.