Pannington Farm wind turbine latest - We won!

I received this today from my fellow campaigner Jenny and its good news for my ward and for surrounding area of beauty in in SW Ipswich. Jenny more than anyone has done the most fantastic job and can now take a well earned rest...

We've won!!

It's the power of the community that's done it - that's YOU!

On PfR's latest web update last weekend, Pannington Farm was no longer included in their list of projects - I spent ages on Monday phoning all their six different numbers. There were only recorded messages.

Eventually John Mills, who is the boss of PfR projects in England, called me back late on Tuesday and curtly said...

'PfR are no longer pursuing the Pannington Farm project'

Thank you all...

Without all the support - financial contributions large and small, blimp-flying, photography, leafletting, poster display, attendance of meetings, and most importantly the letters of objection - we could not have achieved this result. We have been supported in so many ways! Thank you so much and congratulations!

Best regards

Jenny mills




 

Wind Turbine Success for Ipswich Residents!

I'm pleased to report that councillors at Babergh agreed with the officers recommendations and refused permission for PfR to build a huge wind turbine on the site overlooking SW Ipswich at Pannington.

Despite the fact the many people support renewable energy, I think most would agree that the site needs to be appropriate. I love seeing them blowing majestically in the sea - but on land where the nearest house would be just a few hundred meters away it is not in the right context.

I attended the meeting in Hadleigh on behalf of my residents in StokePpark - the only Ipswich borough councillor to do so other than Andrew Caan who was there as an Ipswich Spy reporter alongside Ben.
They will report on this much better than I can, as they have filmed the whole meeting and will no doubt print a full report.

So to my residents in Stoke Park who voted overwhelmingly against this, in a survey from Ben Gummer MP and myself, and helped to change the outcome -

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

My Interview on Radio on new Windfarm rules

Transcript from thursdays interview with Mark Murphy following the announcement of new rules where new planning rules which will give communities the power to block wind farms. Residents will have to be consulted over new wind farms with applications barred if there is significant opposition. Under the plans, energy companies will be able to offer incentives - such as discounts on bills - to persuade communities to agree to new wind farms. Eric Pickles, the Communities Secretary, commented: "We want to give local communities a greater say on planning, to give greater weight to the protection of landscape, heritage and local amenity." 

I then tweeted Mark who immediately asked me to speak on his morning show:

Nadia Cenci (NC)- It has got a little bit quiet as far as I am concerned, because obviously now we’re waiting for the planning application to go in to Babergh.
And I can’t really do a lot about that. I am campaigning on behalf of Ipswich residents along with Stop Ipswich Turbines. As you know I did a survey and when it came back I had quite a high response and 80% of the local residents were against.

Mark Murphy (MM)  – Yet despite that we’ve had Renewables UK today saying there is overwhelming support for these things everywhere.

NC – There might be everywhere on a general (basis), they’re being very generic, but they’ve had it loud and clear from me, Stop Ipswich Turbines, the residents at public meetings - we do not want this on our doorsteps.

MM – Why?

NC – Not because we’re against wind turbines, we’re not. But this is 130 metres (high) and the closest house will be 400mtrs. 
Can you imagine having that towering over your house? Can you imagine? 
So we’re banding together, this is not what we want. They look beautiful in the sea, and they look beautiful far away from someone's home, but you cannot have these things towering over your house - and that’s the objection, not, you know, in principle.

MM – So what do you make of these proposals coming from the coalition today? Councils will be told to put local concerns first. So you hope that, in this case Babergh who will be looking at this one, it’s a border case as you say, you hope that they will be taking that local feeling into case here?

NC – They HAVE to take that local feeling into account, I mean I can't deal with Babergh residents (out of my jurisdiction) but from Stop Ipswich Turbines (survey) they are just as against it so they’ve got to take local feeling into account. And I am really really keen to see how this pans out. If that’s what we’re being told, then the proof will be in the pudding, Mark, because you can’t get more resounding than 80%.

MM – What about some money from the developers. They’ll also have to pay some more to residents who allow turbines in their area, so if there was more of a financial incentive for those people perhaps they’d be more keen?

NC – Actually I just caught the tail end of your last speaker, and I don’t agree (that it will cause conflict where some residents would agree to take the incentive) . I really think you could offer a lot of money to some of those residents in Belstead village and they would not be interested. But of course you’re going to get the occasional person (who will), and perhaps, you know, there will be a little bit of conflict, but overall most of them will say No – if you go to Kessingland and listen to their misery story, there is no price on that, (to compensate).

Now let's see the new legislation working for the residents in Babergh and Ipswich when it comes to the planning application because the way i read it - they have to refuse it.........

Latest on Thorington Windfarm proposals

Ben and I met up over the weekend to discuss the latest on Thorington wind turbines.

The picture shows us at the top of Bridgewater Road and if you look in the distance just past the telegraph pole, this is where the turbine will be seen, in all its glory.

The proposals have shifted the siting of the turbines a little and residents were able to discuss this with Ben Gummer during one of his regular 'Ben in the Pub' evenings at the Kingfisher last week. I was unable to attend as it was my mums 80th birthday and I had a surprise lined up.

SIT also send out regular newsletters and the following is an extract taken from their most recent.

If you are feeling just the slightest bit bored with the subject of wind turbines, look at the youtube clip of a moment in the final construction phase of the two turbines at Eye airfield!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YViCzhUmorM

Imagine that going along the little road to Belstead! 

Eye now has two 130 metre turbines standing, but not yet working. I'm told they are right by the A140, so if you have a chance drive to Eye - you can't miss them.

http://www.dissexpress.co.uk/news/latest-news/in-focus-new-wind-turbines-in-eye-1-4748001

The developer there is Triodos, the same as at Kessingland.  

I will be consulting with residents again in the very near future but, in the meantime, if any of you want to contact me you can put comments below this post, tweet me on @stokeparkcllr (I'd like you to follow me and vice versa too) or e-mail me at nadia.cenci@councillors.ipswich.gov.uk