SPWAG Newsletter, March 2012

Newsletter 3

Appeal Decision

The Inspector has made his decision today and this can be seen in full on the Planning Inspectorate’s website: www.planningportal.gov.uk with the reference number:  APP/J3720/A/11/2161913. He has decided to allow the Appeal and planning permission is now granted for the erection of the 70m high meteorological mast for a temporary period of three years. The planning permission is subject to six conditions but he has weighed the benefits against the harm and concluded that the “harm would be, variously, limited and slight. Against that I weigh the function of the mast as a necessary precursor to deciding whether to pursue the six-turbine scheme (that being a proposal which would need to be the subject of a separate application to, and decision by, the local planning authority)”.

It is therefore more important than ever that you act now to change Government policy on onshore wind farms.  Listed below are three ways that you can do this:

1. Sign an e-petition

David Ramsbotham from Norfolk has started an e-petition which we would urge you to sign please: epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22958. David has written: “I believe that the British public want to make the Government aware of their feelings and objections to these monstrosities which are beginning to blight our green and pleasant land.  The way things are going it won’t be long before there is one near you. As with many other things, our elected representatives seem to be completely out of touch with the electorate on this issue”.

2. Write to the Prime Minister

We are very lucky in the Daventry Constituency to have Chris Heaton-Harris as our MP. In a recent blog posting Chris Heaton Harris MP wrote: “I honestly believe that there is an opportunity that exists now - to amend our policy in this area - that simply didn't exist before 106 MPs wrote to the Prime Minister on this subject. The Prime Minister is very much in listening mode on this issue. So, if like me, you want to see a change in the Government's policy to onshore wind - now is most definitely the time to make your views known.”

See: daventrycalling.livejournal.com/70545.html

We would like to urge anyone and everyone, who has not already done so, to write their individual letter to the Prime Minister NOW.
 
Please feel free to write as you see fit, but we suggest something along the following lines:

The Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
LONDON, SW1A 2AA
 
Dear Mr Cameron
 
On 30th January 2012 over 100 MPs wrote to you to express their concern about the Government’s policy of support for on-shore wind energy production.  They asked the Government to dramatically cut the subsidy for on-shore wind and to spread the savings made between other types of reliable renewable energy production and energy efficiency measures. They also set out some subtle amendments to the new National Planning Policy Framework that they felt would help to rebalance the planning system. Finally, the MPs’ letter urged you to ensure that Planning Inspectors respect the views of local people and that long-established planning requirements are always taken into account. I fully agree with the strongly expressed views set out in that letter and urge you to act on those recommendations.
 
Yours sincerely
 
Mr/Mrs/Ms X

EIGHT STEPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
 
Writing a hard copy letter is by far the best option.
 
However if you simply can’t find the time to dig out some notepaper, an envelope and a stamp then please take the following eight simple steps:
 
1) Select and copy the text above (which is under 1,000 characters in length).
 
2) Go to the Number 10 Contact form at: email.number10.gov.uk/Contact.aspx
 
3) Select the ‘Contact the Prime Ministers Office’ option.
 
4) Enter your postal address, your email address (twice) and a subject line and then paste the text copied from above into the ‘Message’ field.
 
5) Add your name and tailor the message to suit your taste and views. You have an additional 85 characters that you can add if you wish.
 
6) Click the ‘Send’ button.
 
7) THEN watch your email Inbox (and any SPAM folders) for an immediate email to you from Number 10 containing a link. You will then need to click on this link to ensure that your email is safely delivered.
 
8) Send this list of instructions to like-minded friends and family and ask them to take the same EIGHT STEPS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

3.  Stratford on Avon District Council Draft Core Strategy – Public Consultation

Section 6.1 Resources - Climate Change and Sustainable Energy (7 pages) & Section 8.1 District Assets - Landscape (5 pages) are both relevant in relation to wind farms: www.stratford.gov.uk/planning/planning-4019.cfm

This public consultation document might sound like dry reading but please take this important opportunity to send your comments to Stratford-on-Avon District Council.

These are just three ways to make your feelings known but we do feel that they are worthwhile and would be very grateful if you could take these actions and help us to get the Government to listen to the groundswell of objections from the British Public.

You can follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/183561508368547 and sign up to receive our newsletters on www.spwag.co.uk

SPWAG
2 March 2012