Blackrod and Horwich Environmental Action Group

British Medical Journal Raises Concerns about Wind Turbines

admin — Thu, 10 May 2012 17:33:33 +0000

http://www.bmj.com/content/344/bmj.e1527 March 2012

“UK guidance …….. means that turbines must be set back a minimum of 350-500m

……. A large body of evidence now exists to suggest that wind turbines disturb sleep and impair health at distances and external noise levels permitted in most jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom .. .Sleep disturbance may be a particular problem in children”

The full text can be read here BMJ editorial March 2012

The UK Government is a signatory to the Rio Declaration which requires the Precautionary Principle to be invoked where there is uncertainty about the safety and well being of human kind, animals and plant life

“We contend that the onus of proving safety falls on those introducing new forms of environmental pollution, including noise pollution, not on those exposed to the pollutant.”

“We are firm in our assertion that the evidence for harm at distances and noise levels permitted under current regulations in most jurisdictions is such that regulators should take notice and initiate research. If wind turbines are as benign as Prof Chapman asserts he should have no objection to research being undertaken” CD Hanning and Alun Evans 15th March 2012

Extra support for BHEAG – and the Community

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:04:56 +0000

BHEAG with a small army of helpers, sometimes including the local youth group, have helped maintain and improve the appearance of Blackrod Cemetery, co-operating with Bolton Council, over the last years. Now, after nearly two years of requests the community pay back scheme have added their support.
A campaign is also currently in its infancy to fully restore the cemetery chapel.
The previously neglected rose garden, near to Vicarage Road has also been replanted – sponsored by BHEAG , with the support of local residents ( and their spades) and Age Concern. Polyanthus are currently in bloom, with nearly three dozen new rose bushes, already planted.
In this jubilee year the red, white and blue display of petunias will also add a little colour in the village.

We are often asked how many members are there in BHEAG. There are probably no more than a few dozen people at the core – all with the wider community at heart. At times when public meetings however, it is not uncommon for several hundred people to attend.

When BHEAG have spoken to local schools about the environment – it has become abundantly clear that the thing that the children most love about Blackrod and Horwich is the amazing countryside and the openess which surrounds our community. It is this countryside and openess which often attracts people to this area.

It is also this countryside, with its low population densitity, which can provide very attractive to certain businesses.

Occassionally BHEAG are asked by residents to support them in opposing planning applications, often we decline the invitation. BHEAG do not object to many planning applications. In fact we rarely object, we usually ask for information , which we believe to be omitted or highly misleading to be clarified – such as 2 meter high walls, in an open plan estate, being “in-keeping”. Potentially highly contaminated land being ignored and the cumulative impact of hundreds of HGVs passing through a small town centre, passing within a few feet of local schools being potentially ignored. More recently identifying multiple fraudulent support letters.

Occasionaly we change our view. Such a situation is wind turbines eg Douglas Valley or Chadwicks. What appear to be well located sites actually have a massive impact on a few residents, who we believe deserve the support of the whole community (and indeed would not be entertained by the councils that have quantifed the impact of wind turbines on distance to residential properties).

The poem attributed to Pastor Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

“First they came for the communists,

and I did not speak out

—because I was not a communist;

Then they came for the trade unionists,

and I did not speak out

—because I was not a trade unionist;

Then they came for the Jews,

and I did not speak out

—because I was not a Jew;

Then they came for me

—and there was no one left to speak out for me

With millions of pounds at stake,for the applicants and with various threats of litigation against individuals and the group, we are proud at our 100% record -in dealing with substantiated proven facts. We are also proud that we have been able to improve the appearance of a few areas in our town, whilst protecting others and it is great news that there is now further support from The Community Pay Back scheme

Bolton turbine refused permission

admin — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:51:48 +0000

Bolton planning committee yesterday objected to a wind turbine at Matchmoor stables, Horwich. The proposed turbine would have a total height of 32 m , with a 25m mast. The nearest properties were c 200m away.
The turbine was significantly smaller that other turbines currently going through the planning system and somewhat less impactful on neighbouring properties.
In-line with some other authorities which have specific wind turbine policies,preventing a turbine over 25m within 400m (or even 600m) of residential properties the turbine was rejected by both Horwich Town Council and Bolton planning commitee. It is understood that the proposal was objected to by Lindsey Kell, Blackrod and Horwich Ward Councillor , and the Conservative and Liberal Parties and a few Labour members, making the vote 11 objections to 9 in favour
The reasons for the objection were proximity to residential properties and that the harm to the greenbelt would not be outweighed by the very special circumstances.
Again coucillors asked fo a wind turbine policy.
Bolton Council had been previously asked by planning committee to introduce a wind turbine policy. PPS22 states “Plans may include criteria that set out the minimum separation distances between different types of renewable energy projects and existing developments” New National policy guidlines allow communities to state where renewable energy developments should and should not be located. The local argument has shifted from whether turbines are beautiful or an eye sore , to the over bearing imapct they can have on residential homes if sited too close.
Applications at Birches Road, Turton (66m), Chadwick Farm, Horwich(66m) , and the pre consultation at Walker Fold Road, north of the Bolton Old Links Golf Course, Horwich (88m ) show an increasing trend of planning applications for bigger and bigger turbines in the area. All are within 400m of residential property.
Given this national concern regarding turbine proximity to habitation it will be a different debate if / when Bolton Council pursue their ambition of erecting several large tubines on the Red Moss SSSI

The Bolton News ran a poll suggesting that 80% of people are in agreement with BHEAG – that more turbines sould be allowed in the Bolton Borough.

New Planning Guidlines Published

admin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:35:27 +0000

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/2115939.pdf

New National Policy Guidlines have been published today. There will be a presumption in favour of sustainable development.

According to the BBC Council policies” must encourage brownfield sites to be brought back into use – and allowed them to protect back gardens, while ensuring that “playing fields continued to benefit from the same protection that they do currently”.

It also allow communities to specify where renewable energy sources such as wind farms should, and should not, be located.

Similarly greenbelt appears to have the same protection previously afforded

Reaction has been mixed

Douglas Valley Turbine Refusal to be Appealed

admin — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:12:46 +0000

The recently rejected application for a turbine at Douglas VAlley Golf Course is to be appealed by the applicant.
The appeal statement can be found appeal statement

It is clear however that appelant continues to make multiple factually incorrect and misleading statements.
We point out just one:

The final paragraph of the appeal statement concludes

“In an era were localism is given greater prominence the views of locally elected members, who can speak with some democratic legitimacy is relevant” (Previously stating the Parish Council did not object to the proposal)

Blackrod Town Council objected to the turbine unanimously – the Town Council had previously been concerend about the lack of any robust information regarding the application.

Similarly there were no supporters from Bolton Council’s Planning Committee – with elected members from all sides voicing strong objections

Local ward councillors have made wind turbines a key campaign issue for local elections.

It is good the appelant agrees in the relevence of these democratic views – it is disappointing they refuse to accept them.

At this time BHEAG will not comment further.

Chadwick Farm – Ward Councillors Support Objection or Deferment

admin — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 19:04:34 +0000

Following the report from Blackrod and Horwich Environmental Action Group – the planning committee objected to the Douglas Valley Turbine and proposed Bolton Council introduce a wind turbine policy – similar to Milton Keynes etc. . This was proposed by Blackrod and Horwich Ward Councillor Lindsey Kell.

BHEAG have requested that the Chadwick Farm application be either refused on the basis of proximity to residential property who are not financially involved or deferred until Bolton Council has disucussed and implemented a wind turbine policy including proximity to residential property.

Blackrod Town Council have raised similar concern, as has Stephen Pickup – Ward Councillor for Blackrod and Horwich.

It is believed, based on recent campaign literature, that the Conservative party – who supported the rejection of the Douglas Valley Turbine and also support the establishment of a Wind Turbine policy for Bolton are similarly minded.

Meanwhile documents posted on-line once again highlight the deficiencies in the noise assesment. At this time there is not believed to be any investigation into television and radio transmissions.

Bolton Council Asked to Suspend Considering Turbine Applications

admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:22:50 +0000

Following all party agreement and the planning committee’s request for Bolton Council to introduce a Wind Turbine Policy, residents close to an application in Bradshaw have requested that Bolton Council suspend considering wind turbine applications until the policy is agreed.

Similarly BHEAG have submitted a request to bolton Council to defer the Chadwick Farm Application until the policy is agreed. The letter can be found here

Where detailed Wind Turbine policies have been agreed eg Milton Keynes, Cherwell, Torridge it appears that these applications would not be approved.

Anglesey Council recently suspended all turbine applications pending public consultation (Anglesey already had a minimum 400m seperation distance from residential properties, with Welsh guidlines stating 500m as a typical distance)

Association of Greater Manchester Authorities – and Wind Turbines

admin — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:50:29 +0000

http://www.agma.gov.uk/cms_media/files/chapter_6_future_potential2.pdf

The above docuumets expresses a number of considerations relvant to many turbine applications in the area

It was prepared in accordance with PPS1 – to enble the Core Strategies to be fully considerded.

Significant implications relating to landscape character — Wind: Large-scale farms or clusters of 1-3 MWe turbines

“…. the possible spatial location of new wind energy sites a series of constraints agreed with statutory stakeholders by Arup for 4NW can be applied in order to begin identifying broad areas for development. These include areas that are:

‘Constrained’ by protected landscapes, nature conservation areas and related functional
areas, including a buffer zone of 500m for residential areas (this is as a proxy for noise nuisance, “in accordance with industry standards”)

 ‘Variably constrained’ by heritage features, less sensitive nature conservation areas,
aviation flight path and radar areas, and deep peat sites;

 ‘Less constrained’ by the features and designations listed above, but which may be
subject to local designations and/or impact on greenbelt landscape character.

The 500m residential buffer is the most significant constraint, eliminating a significant proportion
of Greater Manchester. This constraint layer warrants further refining as it currently includes nonresidential
locations where siting may or could be possible.

The 4NW appendix idenitifies a residential area as an “address point” 4NW

The main sustainability reort can be found here It refers to large scale wind devlopments

Douglas Valley Turbine Rejected

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 17:12:28 +0000

The Douglas Valley Turbine was today rejected by Bolton Planning Committee – not a single councillor voted for the turbine.

The turbine was simply too big and too close to residential property, having an unacceptable effcet on the amenity of the area.
It also appears that the JRC / United Utilities objection was still valid. No posting for the NERL objection withdrawal has yet been made

The BHEAG objection report can be found Objection Report x

There was agreement from all parties that Bolton Council should adopt a turbine policy similar to those in Milton Keynes, Torridge, Cherwell, Anglesey, Northern Ireland etc.etc etc. A link to these policies can be found under the wind turbine guidance link at the top of this page -supporting evidence is also provided by link to help policy making decision.

Our thank to all those people who have assisted the campaign and to the planning committee for their suport.

Douglas Valley Turbine

admin — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:37:33 +0000

This application will be considered at 2pm today, at the town hall. The public are invited to attend.