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Villagers oppose wind plans




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About 85 people attended a public meeting in Beckingham last night to oppose plans for a wind farm in the village.

Noble Foods wants to put up three 90m-high turbines at its site at Lodge Farm, where the egg marketing company keeps chickens.

They will provide enough energy for more than 2,000 homes.

Villagers are angry at the proposed turbines, which they say will be too close to properties and the A17.

A parish councillor, Mr Graham Else, who chaired the meeting, said the nearest property would be just 300m away.

"The impact this will have on us as a village will far outweigh any benefit to Lincolnshire or the country," he said.

"What is angering people is that it seems to be a very cynical application. All parties are just there to make money."

Mr Else said they were also angry that North Kesteven District Council had been in discussions about the wind farm for more than a year without informing residents.

People found out through a letter inviting them to a public exhibition about the proposals last week.

An industrial wind turbine firm, Wind Direct, is drawing up the plans on behalf of Noble Foods.

Project manager Mr David Jeffery said the original proposal was for 126m-high turbines, but this was changed so not to interfere with radars at RAF Waddington.

He said: "Wind Direct take very seriously the need to look at the impacts of the proposed wind energy scheme and as such, understand the concerns of local residents.

"We have been in discussions with the local planning authority for more than a year to ensure that all aspects of the proposal are properly assessed and our team has liaised with all relevant bodies including the MoD, and RSPB.

"We undertake these steps to ensure that all planning applications for wind turbine installations adhere to strict government guidelines prior to submission.

"The planning application will be accompanied by a full landscape and visual impact assessment, and an independently produced acousticians report which will consider the effects of the proposal on residents.

"Our attention to detail has led to a very high level of planning success to date."

A spokesman for Noble Foods said the firm took its environmental credentials very seriously.

"We are interested in developing renewable electricity not just from a financial angle but because we believe it is the right thing to do from an environmental point of view."

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