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 decision. 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.

(Yes that’s correct, they’ve submitted a planning application, and don’t even now if they can get the bits there yet!)

If the ScottishPower Renewables plans for an Industrial Wind Power Plant are approved, then there could be up to 2500 trucks trundling through Norton and Harvington.

On top of that they have to get the massive Turbine towers  and 46.5m long (that’s the size of one half of a football pitch) turbine blades up to the site, and they have two options, their preferred route is via Norton and Harvington and this is what they would look like:

So to tell them what you think – turn out on Leys Road Harvington between 10:20 am and 11:30 am on Tuesday 17th August and JUST SAY NO to ScottishPower Renewables.

There plans including hauling: 2,500 Lorries (EACH WAY!), 40,000 Tonnes Aggregate, 5,000 Tonnes Concrete through Harvington, just ask yourself:

Where Will You Park?

How Safe will your  Children be?

How Noisy will it be?

What Damage will it do?

How Dirty will they be?

To be known as the  “Wind Turbines (Minimum Distances from Residential Premises) Act 2010”, it makes provision for a minimum distance between wind turbines and residential premises according to the size of the wind turbine; and for connected purposes.

In essence, it says that

No relevant authority may grant planning permission for the construction of a wind turbine generator unless it meets the minimum distance requirement.

unless

“The owners of ALL residential premises which fall within the minimum distance requirement for the proposed wind turbine generator MUST AGREE IN WRITING to the construction of the wind turbine generator.” Also small turbines under 25m to highest blade tip are exempt.

and it sets out those distances as:

If the height of the wind turbine generator is 
  (a) greater than 25m, but does not exceed 50m, the minimum distance requirement is 1000m;
  (b) greater than 50m, but does not exceed 100m, the minimum distance requirement is 1500m;
  (c) greater than 100m, but does not exceed 150m, the minimum distance requirement is 2000m;
  (d) greater than 150m, the minimum distance requirement is 3000m.

In essence this would put an immediate stop to the proposal of ScottishPower Renewables to construct 415 ft (40 storey high) alien structures in the Vale.

You can access the bill directly from the Government sited dedicated to this bill here: Click Here

Or download the bill from here: Right Click and ‘Save As’

There is a lot of information, you do not need to include all of it. 

They key thing is that there are only certain reasons that can be used for an objection to be valid so please read the model letter carefully.

Most important is to just put in a few comments about the topics that are of most concern to you.

It is important that you get your letter written before July 23rd and to us (or posted to Wychavon) by July 24th

Objections are valid for each and every house member over the age of 16.

So please remember to send a separate letter from each and everyone over 16. Each one counts separately. If you sign the letter jointly, it only counts as one.

Also remember to ask your family, friends and neighbours to do the same.

To ensure that letters are properly counted by Wychavon we have arranged for you to be able to drop the letters off locally and we will then take them to Wychavon and get a receipt for it.

‘Right Click’ and ‘Save As’ :  Objection Template Letter for the Planning Application

If you wish to object online, go here (Click on ‘Comment on Application’, then remember to select the ‘Object’ radio button)

http://bit.ly/ObjectToPlanningApplication

Our local letter drops are:

Driftway, Evesham Road, Church Lench (Through the door NOT the outside letter box) and

The Old Chapel, Atch Lench, WR11 4SW (in the box on the wall)

If you need your letter collected please let us know – call Rod on 07929 671019 or your village rep click here: Village Reps

Many thanks for your support.

Kind regards,

Rod Stroud and The VVASP team.

The Lenches is now part of the Redditch Parliamentary Constituency which is currently represented by Jacqui Smith MP so she came to see for herself the scale and detail of the proposal.

Rod Stroud Chairman of VVASP (Vale Villages against Scottish Power, the Action Group campaigning against the proposals) says "Jacqui Smith MP showed concern for the local residents predicament and we received the following response from her Secretary following the visit";

"Jacqui was impressed with the presentation made by Rod (Stroud) and Erica (Page). Should she become MP for the area she will be happy to take on the developers of the proposed windfarm and ensure the government guidelines and policies are tested and clear in relation to a development such as this.

Her main contention is the enormous size of the individual turbines, the proximity to housing and the ‘marginal’ size of the overall development.

Given its’ marginal scale Jacqui thinks that the developers might be unwilling to force through a development that causes them a lot of pain for only a little gain. She will be happy to build on that pain."

Karen Lumley, the prospective Conservative candidate for Redditch, has also visited the site several times and voiced support for the VVASP campaign.

Peter Luff MP has an active interest in the proposals since it was announced in November 2008 and was responsible for the 10 minute Bill presented to Parliament requesting a 2Km exclusion zone between large industrial wind turbines and resident homes.

This gives VVASP and residents in the local area a huge boost in getting ‘cross party’ support that the site is inappropriate for such large industrial turbines so close to peoples homes.

Rod Stroud – Chairman VVASP

In October 2009, Vale Villages Against Scottish Power (VVASP) issued a Newsletter with a copy of a banner we had displayed at the drop-in sessions hosted by ScottishPower Renewables (SPR). It compared the height of a 125m Wind Turbine with local buildings with several boxes on the leaflet explaining our concerns. This prompted someone to complain to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

It is not unusual for wind farm applications to attract the attention of the ASA. Indeed, SPR were the subject of a complaint to the ASA over the size of the turbines illustrated in their leaflet last year. SPR accepted the complaint and have agreed their leaflet will not appear again. This is all the more remarkable, given the wealth of resources available to SPR, whereas we are a small volunteer group working in our own time. Nevertheless, the ASA suggested that SPR consult with them before further leaflets are distributed.

The first complaint against VVASP concerned the use of the word “forever”.

VVASP said that the turbines would “…change the landscape forever”. The complainant said the turbines only had a life of 25 years. We argued that the driving force for the generation of electricity from wind turbines is to reduce carbon emissions. If we are serious about climate change we must stop burning fossil fuels FOREVER not just for 25 years. Wind farms that we have visited are being enlarged or re-powered with larger turbines, so we believe it is naive to think that wind farms are only here for 25 years. According to the ASA this use of “forever” is misleading. We do not share this view.

VVASP believes that, by any reasonable interpretation, the term “forever” is relevant in this context and the complaint trivial.

What is not trivial is the subject of the second complaint concerning the potential for large-scale industrial turbines to have an adverse effect on the health and sleep patterns of people living closeby.

We quoted the work of the American Dr. Nina Pierpoint whom we believe has undertaken extensive research in the field and published a book on the subject. (See www.windturbinesyndrome.com). We also cited a 2009 report from Dr. Chris Hanning, one of the UK’s leading authorities in Sleep Disorders Medicine and even a recent report commissioned by the American Wind Energy Association. 

The ASA decided that none of this research was sufficiently robust to justify our claim, despite the fact that we had also quoted first hand experiences of people whose lives had been blighted by wind turbines located close to their homes. Indeed, some people have had to vacate their homes due to the noise/sleep loss caused by the wind turbines.

VVASP argued that, if experts in this field express valid concerns, these should be taken seriously and Government should adopt the precautionary principle and accept the expert’s advice to only site turbines more than 2Km from homes.

If Wychavon District Council approves SPR’s plans we believe we shall have the largest turbines built closer to homes than anywhere else in the UK.

Despite this, the ASA dismissed all the experts’ views and first hand evidence and upheld the complaint concluding our claim was misleading. Again, we strongly contest the ASA’s decision. We also believe we had taken all reasonable steps to ensure our leaflet was based on well-founded research from recognised experts and, further supported this with first hand evidence. 

Finally we quoted a 2007 report commissioned by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors concerning house price devaluation. The ASA concluded that the verbatim quote used was not representative of the report as a whole. We believe that by any measure of perceived wisdom, given two very similar properties, one in open countryside and the other with a turbine the height of a forty-storey building nearby, the latter would have a lower value.

The ASA disagreed and said it was misleading.

VVASP has agreed to modify the wording on the banner to comply with the ASA ruling

As an organisation, VVASP take great care to ensure all our work is of the highest standard, especially when it involves communicating with the public.

VVASP is extremely disappointed with the ASA’s ruling and strongly disagrees with its decisions, believing we took all reasonable precautions to justify our claims. We will continue to fight the proposed Lenchwick Windfarm and keep residents informed of any relevant information.

Disclaimer

Whilst we have taken every care to ensure the above accurately reflects the ASA’s decision, the opinions expressed are those of VVASP and we cannot accept any responsibility for any errors, misunderstandings or omissions.

Contact VVASP info@VVASP.org.uk

Despite statements by SPR at the SPR organised September sessions that it would be submitted in November, that then slipped to December and then to January, the latest information that we have received is that a Planning Application will be submitted late February.

They have recently been adding in some additional viewpoints for photomontages – including a view from The Lenches Club.

It is also likely to include an application for two alternative access points, one via Badgers Hill and the other via Harvington, Leys Road, The Hand and then across the fields from their.

We apologise that we are unable to give you any more information that this at present, unfortunately that is all that we know, – so much for ‘public consultation’ by SPR!

As soon as we know any more details, we will let you know.

10am

meet at The Lenches Club

CHOICE OF TWO LENGTHS OF WALKS

COME AND SUPPORT VVASP

THE WINDFARM PLANNING APPLICATION IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE NEW YEAR

DROP IN SESSIONS WILL BE ARRANGED AS SOON AS WE HAVE A FIRM DATE

A piece of legislation to control the distance between wind farms and the nearest house is to be introduced into the Commons next month

Legislation backs VVASP campaign for a 2Km No Zone

Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, who has been working with residents on the proposed Lenches/Bishampton wind farm in his constituency, will introduce the “Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation) Bill” on November 3rd.

Using the so-called 10 minute rule procedure, Peter will speak for up to ten minutes, making the case for his bill to proceed to the next stage.

Peter explained,

“It is my limited intention to raise the aesthetic and environmental concerns associated with large wind turbines when they are located too close to homes.
“I happen to be a keen exponent of alternative and renewable energy sources, but feel strongly that onshore wind farms are only appropriate where their visual and environmental impact on open countryside is acceptable.

“Government policy on this issue is vague, giving little protection to local communities who have legitimate objections to the building of these turbines in their area. The companies appear to comply with a voluntary 500m “buffer zone” but this has no legal force.

“The onshore wind turbines proposed for the Lenches are 125m high – the equivalent of a forty storey building and half as high again as Big Ben – but will be located around 650 metres from houses. There is uproar in the affected villages!

“I had originally suggested a blanket one kilometre buffer zones, but after talking to local residents and my colleagues in the Commons, I will propose that smaller turbines should be at least 0.5 of a mile from habitation, medium sized ones a mile, and the largest turbines 1.5 miles.

“I hope that imposing these limits would lead to those applications coming forward being inherently less objectionable and therefore attracting less local opposition.

“It is a limited measure that makes no judgement about the merits of onshore wind, or on the bigger issues of climate change and targets for green energy. You can take whatever view you like on these issues and still see merit in my bill!

“It’s just intended to reduce the risks of these turbines being built unreasonably close to homes – unless, of course, the affected homes wanted them (perhaps because it is on their land and they will benefit financially).”