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February 17th, 2012 The application to extend quarrying at Montcliffe for another eight years has been approved – as expected.
The overall impact of the three quarries has been limited by a unilateral agreement, negotiated by several local groups – in particular limiting overall HGV movements.
BHEAG believe that the original permissions and restoration were given on the basis that no material would be imported for restoration. It is believed the current wording may allow the importation of over one million tonnes of construction and demolition waste.
Cllr Richard Silvester spoke against the plans on behalf of Horwich residents and pointed out that a number of residents and Horwich Town Council had not withdrawn their opposition to the plans
February 16th, 2012 The valley between Blackrod and Horwich looks set to become an endless valley of wind turbines and power plants
The latest development is that a wind farm is proposed on Red Moss – a Site of Special Scientific Interest – of European significance. It is understood the turbines will be operated by Coriolis Energy Ltd. It is understood the number of proposed turbines has been reduced but the Bolton News reports a planning application for five or six turbines is likelym, we believe they will be in the size range of 66m to 100m to blade tip – although up to 160m is possible
This is in addition to turbines at Chadwick Farm (3x66m to tip) and Douglas Valley Golf Course (45m to tip). Both locations are within a few hundred meters of residential properties. A biomass plant has already been approved (and building works started) at Markland Farm / Douglas Valley Golf Course.
The turbine at douglas Valley may affect the television recpetion of over 8000 people . It is not know n how many Chadwick farm will affect
Bolton Council does not appear to have a developed wind turbine strategy.
Local Government Improvement and Development -designated areas and approximate setbacks states that “Designated nature conservation areas should be avoided, and a setback distance from the boundary of the designated area may be recommended by ecologists ”
It also states A setback distance of at least 600 – 800 metres from residential properties for large wind turbines. This may be reduced for smaller projects.
Ofcom avises a minimum seperation distance of at least 500m to residential properties to a turbine.
Wherever a wind policy has been considerd – in depth – it appears highly likely that none of these developments would proceed.
http://www.idea.gov.uk
http://www.cherwell.gov.uk/media/pdf/b/7/Wind_Turbine_Guidance.pdf
http://www.torridge.gov.uk
http://cmis.milton-keynes.gov.uk/CmisWebPublic/Binary.ashx?Document=34232
The lack of a clear policy causes significant concern – particularly when the Council itself benefits from the lack of policy.
It is often said the green spaces around Bolton are what attracts new residents. This looks set to change.
February 1st, 2012 It would appear that the application has now been ammended to only one turbine – due to the presence of a gas line.
It is our understanding that the only turbine now being applied for is turbine 1, closest to the golf house. This turbine also appears to have moved again – although this is not clear. UPDATE : turbine 1 has not moved.
There are currently several objections or requests for deferment :
NERL – air traffic control
MOD –
Joint Radio Company
Ofcom also needs to be consulted
The site also requires a bat survey to be completed prior to any permission being granted.
Residents have asked for a deferral to ensure an appropriate noise assesment can be completed
It is further a matter of law and good practice that the base line should include any developments for which permission has already been granted – ie the biomass plant. It would therefore be incorrect to assume that the turbine will offset carbon usage on the site.
Whilst it seems likely the application will be deferred it is still for the planning committee to decide
January 27th, 2012 Ask most people what they think of renewable energy and generally they will respond positively.
Most people however also confuse the terminology with environmentally friendly or sustainable energy which can be something quite different.
The looming shortage of electricty generation, together with a UK commitment to produce 25% of energy from renenewable energy sources by 2025 has helped drive up domestic energy prices as the government subsidises and incentivises private renewable energy production.
What most people want is sensitive exploitation of renewable energy sources which are sustainable.
The use of biofuels causes problems in many areas of the world. Land clearance has caused many issues in the developing world. One clearance fire resulted in more CO2 emissions than the UK would produce in a single year. People lose their homes, their land their lives.
Food crops are replaced with energy crops and prices anre driven higher, leaving people to starve. Its a global economy, driven by supply and demand – where the rich win and the poor die.
Swaithes of rainforests are being deforested to grow palm oil – for burning. Increasing global CO2 production.
Are biofiels and renewable energy a good thing ? http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/
Hydro electric power accounts for nearly 20% of China’s power production. Recently Chinese officials staged a sudden about-face, acknowledging for the first time that the massive Three Georges hydroelectric dam, the world’s largest, sandwiched between breathtaking cliffs on the Yangtze River in central China, may be triggering landslides, altering entire ecosystems and causing other serious environmental problems—and, by extension, endangering the millions who live in its shadow. Three Georges Dam Is hydro electric a good thing ?
Last year, the world’s largest wood fueled biomass plant was approved – in the UK. If built it will use an estimated 60 million tonnes of wood a year – six times the UKs average wood production. The sad thing is that the wood that will be burned does not have to be replaced with new trees. Guess we will be importing even more wood and adding more to world CO2 levels. !The biggest threat to the Mountain Gorillas in the Congo – is the clearance of forest for charcoal production – a renewable energy source. Is renewable energy a good thing ?
Tilbury
Not all renewable energy projects are bad – to the contrary, but nor are they all good. The plan to use solar power, harnessed in the dessert, to supply 15% of Europes power by 2050 . That seems a much better idea than covering arable farmland with solar panels in the UK Desert power.
Admirably the UK leads the way with off shore wind farms but falls behind the curve in small scale domestic renewable energy projects – although these are now starting to have a benefit in the UK.
The UK government is encouraging small scale energy production, solar PV, wind power etc. Bolton’s core startegy encourages the use of CHP (Combined heat and Power) which can be over 90%efficient.
The largest biomass CHP for district heating plant is in Japan – 2MWe.
In Blackrod a plant twice this size has been approved at the Douglas Valley Golf Course, for district heating. The plant will burn approximately 5% of the total wooded are inthe North West of England each year – and produce enough electric for 11,000 houses and enough heat energy to heat the whole of Blackrod. Unfortunately the plant will only actually heat six houses, and the rest of the thermal energy will be wasted – making it one of the least efficient CHP plants in the world – estimated at below 20% – wasting valuable energy resources- an environmental crime.
The same site has also applied for two industrial wind turbines – despite guidance to the contrary unfortunately the proposed turbine tips will be within 50m of hedgerows and linear field structures. (In fact they are within a few meters). Why is this important ?
Some of Europe’s most endangered species – bats – use these linear structures as highways – they will virtually never fly accross an open field. Turbine blades have been responsible for many bat kills -it is unlawful to deliberately kill a bat – and contributory negligence by ignoring the guidlines is unlikely to provide a defence – an environmental crime.
For those who would wish renewable energy at any cost – be careful what you wish for – dont be daft – think – sensitive exploitation of renewable energy sources which are sustainable.
Blind as Bat – Daft as a Brush
Energy efficiency is probably the best way we, as individuals can reduce the demand for energy and help achieve the 25% target. Many domestic energy suppliers now provide free roof insulation and free cavity wall insulation. If you havent yet gone down this route – or at least had a free consultation you to may be commiting an environmental crime. Please help Save the Planet – without costing the Earth.
January 18th, 2012 The photographs below show the first photographic submission by the applicant, the latest submission by the applcant (both using a wide angle lens) and our interpretation – the latter using a 50mm lens and more correctly exposed, which is good practice when depicting visual impact. All are taken from approximately the same location. An actual WES turbine, in actual colours is shown in our interpretation) (It should be noted that we believe our interpretation still underestimates the impact, as the baloon, used to centre the turbine was not flying at a vertical height of 30m) Click on the images to see a larger view
At the same time the turbines have been getting quieter with the latest noise assement appears to claim that at 200m a turbine will be 37 dB, rather than the 45dB claimed on the manufacturers website.
To make matters worse, the site is approved for a biomass plant.Having stated “we have had no other option but to shelve this project for the time being”, around the 17 October 2011, within a month work had commenced on the plant.
It is good that people from outside the area are in favour of wind turbines, as are we. It is unlikely that they are aware of the impact of these specific turbines as it has been almost impossible to understand from the data which has been submitted.
Wind turbines are an excellent form of renewable energy. Some people do not like them spoiling the views in the countryside when out for a walk. This is considerably different from having one invading the privacy of your own home, either visually or with noise – particularly relevant to the proposed turbines at Douglas Valley given the topography of the land and the number of people directly affected.
There will be many more applications for turbines in the local area – it is only to be hoped that these will provide accurate and detailed informtion from the outset and that they will not effect so many residents on a personal basis – so that the whole community can embrace this technology.
January 17th, 2012 Residents of Blackrod and Horwich need only look to Adlington to see what may happen soon.
The green fields adjacent to Blackrod have been allocated 179 houses in Chorley’s draft allocation plan. A developer is likely to put in an application for 300 houses on the site within the next two weeks.
Planning approval has already been given for c 70 houses at the foot of the site, alongside the railway.
ie 370 houses – more than twice what was expected and even before the allocation plan is approved.
In Blackrod, it has been noted that the boundary of the Blackrod Industrial Estate, for infilling, also contains a number of greenbelt fields.
Please make your views known
December 31st, 2011 The latest information on the Douglas Valley Golf Course Turbines, can be found
HERE
December 20th, 2011 “As per the terms of the consent order dated 14 December 2011, I write to withdraw the objections made to the application (No. 86368/11) for the grant of permission in relation to Montcliffe Quarry, on my behalf and on behalf of BHEAG and RAGE (incorporating Arcon Village Residents’ Group, Montcliffe Residents’ Association and Horwich Moor Residents’ Association).”
Letter x
December 14th, 2011 Marcus Simmons , spokesman for RAGE, and Martin Millmore of The Mineral Planning Group on behalf of Armstrongs Aggregates Limited have jointly issued the following statement.
We are pleased to report that the Judicial Review has been resolved via a legally binding agreement. The agreement will reduce the proposed HGV numbers for Montcliffe and Pilkington Quarries by 25% and there is a commitment on behalf of Armstrongs Aggregates to route HGVs away from the centre of Horwich during school drop off and pick up times. Armstrongs Aggregates have also agreed to provide to Bolton Council monitoring data regarding noise, dust and traffic levels, which Bolton will publish.
Armstrongs Aggregates and Bolton Council have also agreed to form an ongoing liaison group with residents, to enable residents to voice their concerns with the aim of ensuring that potential future disputes can be avoided. We see the agreement today as a positive step towards a new relationship between residents, the Council and Armstrongs Aggregates.
A Council spokesman added: “We are pleased that an agreement has been reached and the Council’s Planning Committee will be considering the Montcliffe planning application in due course.
December 9th, 2011 Having stated “ we have had no other option but to shelve this project for the time being, around the 17 October 2011, http://www.planning.bolton.gov.uk/Documents/110598_23.pdf
Within a month the development has commenced – although the information was not available until after the due decision date for the turbines, in which the above statement was made,
http://www.planning.bolton.gov.uk/Documents/116407_15.pdf
December 8th, 2011 The planning committee are due to visit the site, this morning at 11.20 am
The planning committee is scheduled for 2pm at the Town Hall – the public are invited to attend – however we understand that the planning officer will now be recommending deferment – and it is unclear whether the application will be considered.
“Dear All,
As you may or may not be aware a revised noise assessment was submitted by the applicant late yesterday, as well as various submissions from residents and BHEAG. This amounts to a lot of information which needs to be digested and considered by officers before being presented to the Planning Committee. It is key that the information presented is correct and members make their decision based on this information.
The timescales to consider the amount of information are too tight and therefore officers will recommend the Planning Committee defer the application at this afternoon’s meeting to enable full consideration of the information.
The final decision whether to defer the application will lie with the planning committee, so this email is a precursor to this afternoon’s meeting, but I trust it forewarns you of what may happen.
Please note the site visits planned to the golf club and 38 Nightingale Road will still take place this morning. The planning committee are due to arrive at the golf club at 11.20am.
I appreciate this email will not reach every resident directly, but I would appreciate your co-operation in passing the message onto as many people as possible.
Regards
Andrew”
The meeting was deferred with an incredible amount of informtation included in the late list.suppl
December 6th, 2011 A great number of concerns remain unanswered about the proposed devlopment.
A brief summary, of some of the concerns can be found Douglas Valley Golf Course BHEAG x
December 1st, 2011 The officer is recommending approval.
Apparently ignoring the deficiencies in the noise report regarding the timing of data - which the officer tacitly agrees has ignored guidance, but will be revisted in the next week and the fact that the noise data appears at best unrealistic – in that the noise generated by the turbine appears to be 75% less than the manufacturer states !!
The precise impact on the public footpath is unclear – other than to say it should be diverted.
The proposed conditions seem to ignore guidance regarding end of life and the colour of the turbines.
Almost bizarrely the officer seems to acknowledge that there is a risk of golf balls hitting the blades – either accidently or on purpose – the consequences of which should be considered after the event !!
Pages from Pages from report -22
Pages from Pages from report-22-27
November 25th, 2011 Residents have been confused at how the applicant for the turbines on Douglas Valley golf course, can refer to the turbines as small. How the turbines were originally appeared to be in the wrong scale on the photo montages.
Now residents are bemused with the updated noise statement. Whilst updating the noise statement, the noise source has been reduced from c 104 dB to 97.1 dB. (as of 07/12/2011 the noise source has decreased further to 92dB)
No explanation is given for this reduction of 75% Even the manufacturers own website seems to suggest the figure is wrong.
No explanation is given why one of the turbines (the one closest to Nightingale Road) is missing or why the combined effect, which we estimate would add over 3dB is missing.
The assesment also appears to avoid the noise generated if it gets windy, limiting it to 8m/s (about 2/3 of its top speed)
For the “alternative” analysis of the noise generation see http://www.planning.bolton.gov.uk/Documents/111580_65.pdf
Meanwhile Prince Phillip slams turbines as a “Fairytale”
The UK currently has a total of 3,421 turbines, with 2,941 onshore and there are proposals in place by the Government to build a further 4,500
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