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10-Minute Rule Bill for Buffer Zone between wind farms and houses

Sunday, 25 October 2009

MP TO USE 10-MINUTE RULE TO INTRODUCE BUFFER ZONE BETWEEN WIND FARMS AND HOUSES

A Bill is to be presented to Parliament on Tuesday, November 3^rd that seeks to control the distance between wind farms and the nearest house. The Bill will be introduced by Conservative MP Peter Luff using the Ten Minute Rule procedure. Peter Luff is the MP for Mid Worcestershire and since 2005 he has been the Chairman of the influential House of Commons Select Committee on Business, Innovation and Skills and its predecessors (the Trade & Industry and subsequently Business & Enterprise Committees).

The Bill will propose legislation to control the distance between wind farms and the nearest house by insisting that there should be a minimum distance of at least 2 km. Explaining his decision to introduce the Bill, Peter Luff says:

“It is my limited intention to raise the aesthetic and environmental concerns associated with large wind turbines when they are located too close to homes. I happen to be a keen exponent of alternative and renewable energy sources, but feel strongly that onshore wind farms are only appropriate where their visual and environmental impact on open countryside is acceptable. Government policy on this issue is vague, giving little protection to local communities who have legitimate objections to the building of these turbines in their area. The companies appear to comply with a voluntary 500m “buffer zone” but this has no legal force.

“I had originally suggested a blanket one kilometre buffer zones, but after talking to local residents and my colleagues in the Commons, I will propose that smaller turbines should be at least half a mile from habitation, medium sized ones a mile, and the largest turbines one and a half miles. I hope that imposing these limits would lead to those applications coming forward being inherently less objectionable and therefore attracting less local opposition. It is a limited measure that makes no judgement about the merits of onshore wind, or on the bigger issues of climate change and targets for green energy. You can take whatever view you like on these issues and still see merit in my bill! It’s just intended to reduce the risks of these turbines being built unreasonably close to homes – unless, of course, the affected homes wanted them - perhaps because it is on their land and they will benefit financially.”

It has been suggested that people and organisations that object to wind turbines, wind farms or the close proximity of both to houses should write to their local MP to ensure support for the measure being introduced on November 3^rd.

The MPs for Cornwall are:

Falmouth and Camborne – Julia Goldsworthy (Lib Dem)

North Cornwall – Dan Rogerson (Lib Dem)

St Ives – Andrew George (Lib Dem)

South East Cornwall – Colin Breed (Lib Dem)

Truro and St Austell – Matthew Taylor (Lib Dem)

The address to write to is:

House of Commons, London. SW1A 0AA

If you feel strongly about the measure that is to be introduced, then please write to your MP today. Please note, though, that the MP’s statement and intended measure mixes kilometres with miles, and that there is no definition of a “wind farm”.

Ted Venn

25th October 2009

Davidstow Wind Farm - The Decision

Thursday, 22 October 2009

Davidstow Wind Farm

The news that the above wind farm had been approved by Cornwall Council on October 13^th was greeted with considerable dismay by all those people and organisations that were opposed to it. However, the decision was subject to two provisos:

(1) Air traffic safety; and

(2) Biodiversity.

At a meeting with Phil Mason, Head of Planning and Regeneration, on October 20^th, it was established that Cornwall Council’s Strategic Committee had voted in favour of the wind farm scheme because in their view energy security overrides harmful impacts to the environment! It was also apparent that Cornwall Council is content with the decision and planning officials are most unlikely to challenge the decision. So strategic policies win against local considerations and the environment!

CPRE Cornwall views the decision with great concern, as it:

creates a precedent
ignores the views of local people and Cornwall Council’s own Area Planning Committee who last month voted against the proposal
fails to consider the whole aspect of renewable energy including alternatives to wind farms

Phil Mason admitted that wind power is the most realistic solution to fossil fuel and nuclear power stations because it is available now. Government targets and subsidies will make wind power an attractive proposition and discourage investment into the various alternatives as a realistic and preferred source of renewable energy, such as solar power, tidal power and geo-thermal heat.

CPRE Cornwall considers that the Strategic Committee’s decision is flawed as secure energy is hardly likely to come from wind power, which is an intermittent source.

Unless the people of Cornwall stand up to fight Governmental imposition and Council acquiescence, the environment of Cornwall will become less attractive and appealing, with the result that the local economy will decline. Therefore, it is critical that MPs and councillors hear the voice of the people of Cornwall - NO MORE WIND FARMS!

Ted Venn

20^th October 2009

Best Kept Village Competition 2009

Saturday, 22 August 2009

WILCOVE WINS CORNWALL'S BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION FOR 2009

The results of this year's Cornwall Best Kept Village Competition have been announced. The prestigious competition is organized and sponsored by the CPRE Cornwall.

The competition focuses on local community spirit, in particular through a village's well kept environment, and recognising communities pulling together to make the most of what they have for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

Judging took place in June and July and was carried out by a panel of three judges from the Cornwall Federation of Women's Institutes, each village receiving independent visits from the judges.

This year's winner is the small village of Wilcove near Torpoint. A regular supporter of the competition in recent years, Wilcove has beaten off a strong challenge from the County's other entrants.

Other positions are as follows:

2^nd St. Neot 3^rd Altarnun 4^th St. Tudy

Highly Commended certificates are awarded to:

Veryan St. Mawgan-in-Pydar Germoe

The winning villages will be presented with certificates provided by CPRE Cornwall, and a special presentation will be held in Wilcove in September/October when the village will receive an engraved slate plaque from CPRE Cornwall, a Winners Certificate, and £500 to be put towards a project for the benefit of the village community.

St. Neot and Altarnun will receive £300 and £200 respectively, again to be used for the whole community's benefit.

CPRE Cornwall's competition organizer, Courtenay Smale, said: ‘Standards of tidiness in the entrant villages remain high and are a credit to all the participants. All the villages taking part have demonstrated pride in their immediate environment by participating in the competition and all are to be congratulated. This in itself sets them aside from the larger number of villages in the County who do not enter year on year. Wilcove's success this year demonstrates that any village, irrespective of size, stands a very good chance of winning the competition.

Ted Venn

22^nd August 2009

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Wind Farms: A Token Gesture - Shaun Spiers

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