Time too short for say on turbines

A resident living near the site of two proposed wind turbines says villagers in the Newark and Sherwood district were not given enough chance to have their say on the proposals.

Mr Peter Winter lives in Syerston, near the border with Rushcliffe, which is where the proposal was submitted.

He says residents in Syerston and nearby villages, who would be able to see the wind turbines, were not given the chance to have their say before Rushcliffe Borough Council’s December 3 deadline.

An application was submitted to Rushcliffe for two wind turbines in Sibthorpe. They would be 35.5-metres high with a 19.2-metre blades.

Residents of Rushcliffe were given until December 3 to object, but Mr Winter says no one in Syerston, Elston, Hawksworth or Flintham knew about the application.

The proposed site is visible from homes in both Newark and Sherwood and Rushcliffe districts.

Newark and Sherwood District Council has now given villagers until tomorrow to have their say on the proposals.

“We understand that it has given a closing date of tomorrow for objections to be filed,” said Mr Winter. “That is very short notice indeed.”

“I need hardly tell you of the environmental impact the turbines will have situated where they are proposed.

“I understand that many residents in all four villages are upset at the lack of information about the application, the lack of any consultation and the rather rapid closing date for objections.”

Newark and Sherwood’s business manager for development, Mr Matt Lamb, said: “As the determining authority, Rushcliffe Borough Council has notified Newark and Sherwood District Council of a planning application for two 50kw wind turbines at Sibthorpe.

“As the neighbouring authority, Newark and Sherwood is being consulted because of the proximity to the council’s boundary and has until December 14 to submit its response.

“The council is not under any statutory obligation to publicise the application as it is not the determining authority, but we are writing to parish councils to advise them of the application and to contact Rushcliffe Borough Council directly with any concerns.

“We will also be passing on any comments already received as part of our response.”