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28th July: The application has been validated and the planning reference will be published in the Blackmore Vale on the 29th July. The application can be seen on the North Dorset District Council website. Go to the Development Control web page and then click on the' Silton Windfarm Proposal'. Write now if you wish to oppose. The details are at the bottom of this page.
27th July: We are told that the Ecotricity application is being validated this week and the details will be published on Thursday 29th July. I noted yesterday that at 1015 hrs all the UK wind turbines were producing a total of 84MW. There are 253 onshore windfarms in the UK, and 5 offshore. They have a total of 2909 turbines. The CAPACITY of these windfarms (the figure the wind industry always talks about) is 4580 MW. Therefore the 84 MW yesterday was 1.8%of their capacity. There have been several days in the past month when it has been even less. As the Chairman of Shell said on the radio this morning - the only reason for investing in wind is the huge subsidies available. Without these, no business would invest in wind.
23rd July 2010: At 8.30 this morning, the total output from all the wind turbines across the UK was 28 MW, which (again) was 0.1% of the UK requirement. The absurdity is that, even if we we had all the wind farms that Dale Vince and his pals want, they would still produce only a trickle. And yet the subsidies (paid for from our electricity bills)continue to roll in.
20th July 2010: The following amazing statement has appeared on the Ecotricity website. It seems to overlook the fact that the Planning Committee decision was unanimously against the proposal, and that more than 'some' local people were opposed: 2000 letters against - by far the biggest opposition there has ever been to a planning application in North Dorset! By the way, at 1715 hrs today, wind across the whole UK was producing 44 MW, which is 0.1% of the UK output of electricity. What would happen were to depend on wind for 20% of our needs?
"Our application for six turbines went to committee late last year. Planning officers felt that the proposal met all their strict criteria and satisfied environmental standards, but it was clear at the committee meeting that some of its members and some people in the local community still had concerns with the proposal regarding landscape and cultural heritage, and the methodology of the noise monitoring studies. Our aim is always to bring maximum environmental benefit with minimum environmental impact. In response to this feedback, we have spent the last few months working hard to address these main concerns by undertaking further detailed assessments. We have now adjusted the proposal accordingly by revising the layout and number of turbines on the site, and also undertaking additional noise monitoring at nearby residences."
19th July 2010: Tim and Debbie Allard and their two sons own a farm less than a kilometre from the proposed turbine site. Theirs is the fourth generation of the family to farm here. In 2006, they took out a large loan to build two holiday cottages in this idyllic, peaceful site. The cottages have been a great success - but their guests have been unanimous in their view that they would not consider returning if the turbines are built. They would spoil the whole reason for coming. "This would be ruinous for us and for the other holiday businesses in the area", says Debbie. "We've invested our life savings in the cottages and couldn't survive here if the business goes under."
15th July 2010: I'm just getting a link to a really excellent paper from CPRE explaining clearly and powerfully why wind turbines are a waste of your and my money.Click here to read it now!
10th July 2010: Ecotricity delivered its application for 4 wind turbines to North Dorset District Council. The Council will now validate the proposal and then issue the formal number of the application. From that date, we have 3 weeks in which to respond - in comparison with the more than one year which Ecotricity has had to prepare its application! In this time, we will have to brief our experts in acoustics, landscape issue and photomontages - we can't do this until we see the application and confirm the exact position of the turbines - and they will have to prepare their reports. However, we have already requsted an extension to the 3 week period - last time we were granted 5 weeks and we hope for at least the same this time.
What do we have to do? If, like us, you oppose this proposal, you should write to the Council - but your letter will need to refer to the planning number, which is 2/2010/0731/PLNG. The address is:
Development Control, North Dorset District Council,
Nordon,
Salisbury Road,
Blandford Forum DT11 7LL.
or email to: devcontrol@north-dorset.gov.uk - but your email must include your name and postal address.