The Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, has called in a proposed three turbine wind farm at Chepstowe, near Ballarat, which is close to one occupied dwelling.

Next time you come and enjoy the wonderful landscape that exists in the Lenches, either just to pass through, or to enjoy the Blossom trail, pause for moment and take a closer look.

The Lenches now has, per house more solar PV panels, Solar thermal panels, air source and ground source heat pumps in operation than any of the other villages in the Vale!

So, if you want to find out how You can really do Your bit for the environment, just come and visit us. 

(p.s if you can’t see the panels, it’s because a lot of the Lenches is a conservation area, and they have been discretely installed on roofs and in areas that don’t face the road!)

For over two years we have been working towards achieving this decis

ion. The journey has been long and arduous and deeply affected many resident’s lives.

Developments of this magnitude require more technical research and more opportunties to consult the communities in a more respectful and consultative way. Not just the odd village hall ‘open evening’ with inadequate paper questionnaires. It must be a community decision ensuring the right technology is in the right environment.

We are aware that this may not be the end of resident’s plight. The Applicant is a large corporation with substantial Parent Company financial backing. They have the funds to force an Appeal.

If an Appeal is successful it won’t be the Applicant or its employees that will have health and home affected by the decisions of others .

We will fight on.

VVASP is not against wind farms as a renewable energy source, we believe in the right renewable technology in the right environment. The Vale of Evesham is not the right environment for 410 feet/126m wind turbines.

NEWS RELEASE

Wychavon District Council has today published the planning report on the Lenchwick wind farm planning application.

The report will be considered at a special meeting of Wychavon District Council’s Development Control Committee on January 27. The report recommends members of the committee to refuse the application.

In summary, the reasons for the recommendation are:

• Landscape – the proposed wind turbines would lead to an unacceptable adverse impact on the character of the landscape and a visual intrusion
• Noise – the development would expose nearby residential properties like Manor Farm and Manor Farm Cottage to excessive and unreasonable levels of noise
• Residential amenity – the wind farm’s proximity to residential properties, including Badgers Sett, Manor Farm, Manor Farm Cottage and Garfield House, would create an overly imposing, dominating and oppressive visual effect
• Highways – the Highways Agency has concerns about the use of the M5 and the A46 to deliver the wind turbine components. Worcestershire County Council has also objected to the impact construction traffic would have on the maintenance of the existing highway.

The full planning report, including the full reasons for refusal, can be read at www.wychavon.gov.uk/planning.

The planning application, by ScottishPower Renewables, is for a wind farm on land east of Bishampton Bank.

The proposals include the erection of five 2.3 mega watt turbines measuring 126.5 metres to tip (80 metres to hub) and infrastructure including hardstandings, access tracks, compounds and a permanent meteorological mast.

ScottishPower Renewables is applying for permission to install and operate the wind farm for 25 years.

The Development Control Committee special meeting will be held on Thursday 27 January at 2.00pm in the Civic Centre at Pershore.

-Ends-

Relative Sizes of Lenchwick Wind Turbines with Broadway Tower, Pershore Abbey, Church Lench Church and Worcester Cathedral

In an very late, understated submission to Wychavon, Scottish Power Renewables, only confirmed their decision after an exchange of emails between Worcestershire County Council (The Highways Authority) and ScottishPower Renewables

Here is an Extract from the request:

14th December 2010

“I have read with interest that it is claimed that the route via Evesham Road / Leys Road has been selected as the preferred route. I was not aware of this being so and was still under the impression that both routes were being considered.”

Brian Sharp, Development Control Engineer, Worcestershire County Council

And ScottishPower Renewables Reply:

14th December 2010

“We have now decided that the Evesham Road / Leys Road option poses the least difficulties”

Kirsty Black, Assistant Project Manager, SCOTTISHPOWER RENEWABLES

Nearly 6 months after the submission of their application, finally they have made a decision.

So now Harvington and Leys Road could see more than 5,000 tonnes of concrete and 35,000 tonnes of aggregate passing through, with the return journeys, that means more than 5,000 trucks passing through this quiet village and residential area.

And yet – no consultation about this proposal to the people affected.

So what is driving Scottish Power?

Church Lench Village Hall

7:30pm for 8pm

Come along and be entertained by

Louise James

“A one off natural performer with a

big personality and a powerful voice”

From classic love songs to dance tracks.

Louise’s repertoire is varied and versatile ranging

from the 1960’s to the latest chart hits

Bar

Cheese and Biscuits in the Interval

Tickets only £10

e:tickets@vvasp.org.uk

for more information about Louise, please visit:

http://www.louise-james.co.uk/

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