Villagers prepare for long wind farm battle
Villagers in Wormleighton are gearing up for the fight of their lives in a battle to stop a nine-turbine wind farm being built nearby.
Plans have been submitted to Stratford-on-Avon District Council for the Stoneton Wind Farm on land near the village by EDF Energy Renweables.
Villagers from Wormleighton, Priors Marston and Priors Hardwick have begun to register their opposition to the scheme on the council’s website and chairman of the Wormleighton Parish Meeting group, Irvin Klegerman, is calling on residents from surrounding villages to register their opposition.
“We need to get more than 1,000 people emailing objections to this application,” he said.
“There are only 50-60 residents in Wormleighton and 199 in Priors Hardwick. Only by getting support from surrounding parishes can we be effective.”
Priors Marston resident Andrew Mills also registered objections to the wind farm, expressing concerns about the visual impact of the development and the effects on wildlife.
He also raised concerns about the proximity of the planned wind farm to the proposed route of the HS2 rail network which runs adjacent to the site.
“The development will have a significant adverse visual impact on local amenities such as viewing points, nature reserves and footpaths,” he said. “When taken into account with the cumulative effects of the proposed HS2 development, the loss and impact to leisure amenities becomes even more acute.”
Mr Klegerman added that while the Parish Meeting group has no official powers to challenge the application it will do everything in its power to register opposition.
Villagers are also hoping that the anticipated discovery of Roman remains under the site could help to slow the development.
“When the Fosse Way was built by the Romans, many settlements were started along it,” said Mr Klegerman.
“This won’t necessarily stop the development but it might cause a delay.”
The wind farm would consist of nine three-bladed turbines with a maximum tip height of 125m. A new access track would link the site to the A423.
The council aims to make a decision on the application by the middle of May.
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Weather for Banbury
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 4 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 4 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
