The Wind Farm near Woore

Anyone hoping the proposed Wind Farm at Woore would be refused planning consent must have been alarmed by the news in this week's Nantwich Chronicle that the Planning Inspector has overturned Crewe & Nantwich Council's decision to refuse consent for a trial mast for a similar wind farm proposed on Bickerton Hills.

More than 1,000 objections were received for the Woore site which prompted the local council to send a 20 page list of questions to the developer who swiftly responded with 60 pages of top quality spin that Shane Warne would have been proud of. I fear that the Government funded consultants will be more than a match for the local authority who will be looking with trepidation at the costs of an appeal should they reject the plans.

The business case for on-shore wind farms depends entirely on subsidies and projections of electricity generation that are extremely optimistic. The claimed 20% utilisation in practice is between 0 and 5% based on independant studies and research. This means that for up to 95% of the time other forms of generation will be required.

We are in an energy crisis because successive governments have put off making a decision on Nuclear Generation to avoid upsetting the green lobby and as a result many with green leanings are now accused of Nimbyism because we object to uneconomic on-shore wind farms in the countryside.

With regard to the impact of the Woore Farm, the plans show there will be seven wind turbines. What is now farmland becomes a vast industrial development with a major effect on the local infrastructure. The trial mast was visible from parts of Audlem but we should not forget the turbine blades could be 50% higher and there will be seven of them.

I am convinced that despite all the objections, the Wind Farm will go ahead and the costs of destroying our countryside for little benefit will be met by the taxpayer.

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