As a community we all need to pull together. This is the LARGEST PLANNING DEVELOPMENT you are likely to face in the area. Action groups, individuals and parish councils around the UK are seeing their efforts being rewarded with applications being dismissed not only by the local authorities but at appeal too. It is worth the fight and we need your support to continue with our efforts.
FEBRUARY 2009
22/02/09 - Planning application submitted
Scottish Power Renewables have now submitted their full planning application to South Kesteven District Council (SKDC). The application is for 6 x 125metre high turbines. The time to act is now. You must start writing your letters of objection and have them to SKDC by 10th March 09. Follow this link to see how to submit your objection: How to object
JANUARY 2009
25/01/09 - Where are we?
On Christmas Eve 2008 ScottishPower Renewables submitted their planning application for the Neslam Wind Farm. The application did not however contain sufficient detail upon which it could be assessed by the SKDC planning officers and therefore has been returned to ScottishPower. The formal consultation process will not commence until this information has been re-submitted.
We are now being "hit" with a further development within very close proximity of the Neslam site. EON in partnership with the Crown Estates has started talks with SKDC on a proposal for ~17 turbines on land adjoining Billingborough and Horbling. If planning consent if given to both these projects this wil mean that from Bicker-> Sempringham there will be a total of 36 industrial turbines.
Click here to goto a map which illustrates the proposed sites.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2008
30/10/08 - A Night at the Races
AGAST are running a race night to raise funds for the campaign. Join us for an evening of great fun & entertainment
VENUE: Billingborough Village Hall
DATE: Friday 28th November 08
TIME: Doors open at 6:30pm for 1st race at 7pm
Admission tickets £1 on the night to include a "light bite"
Games will include horse auction, raffle race & winner from loser
- Bar available
- Raffle with prizes including a hampler filled with local products grown or made in Lincolnshire
If you would like any further information or would like to sponsor arace or buy a horse for the night please contact us.
30/10/08 - Nina Pierpont Wind Turbine Syndrome
The complete and authoritative report on Wind Turbine Syndrome to date. A must read for you all.
Based on the evidence presented, it calls for a minimum of 2 km setbacks of industrial turbines from people’s homes
A photo gallery has now been added to this site. Photographs of the area and some of the blimp flight photos will be published here. To find the photo gallery goto Important Links and then look for the Photo Gallery link on the list of links on the left hand side of your screen.
02/09/08 - BlimpPermission extended
We would like to thank all of you who supported the blimp flight over the weekend. After some initial glitches (where the blimp sprung a leak) and adjustments on the guys we were able to launch on both days. Unfortunately the banner proved to be too heavy and hence you would not have been able to see it. We would however still like to invite anyone who took photographs to please submit them as the competition will still run. We do have some stunning photos which show quite clearly the impact the proposed site will have on the landscape. The blimp which is much small in size could be seen quite clearly from locations miles away so that should remind you what the real thing is going to do.
We have also extended the CAA permit so that we can attempt to get the blimp up for a second weekend (weather permitting).
30/08/08 - Watch out for the blimp this weekend
We shall be launching a blimp to approximately the full height of the proposed turbines (weather permiting) from a location bordering Neslam Farm and as close to one of the turbine sites as we can get. The blimp will help illustrate the full scale of these industrial machines and the impact that they will have on households upto 20-30km away.
Photograph the blimp from any location and see if you can identify the banner. Send your picture(s) and answer to www.supportagast.co.uk by 12th September 08 to be entered into a prize draw.
Note: We reserve the right to have full & fair useage of any photographs submitted. The winner of the prize will be notified within 14 days of the end date of the competition.
06/07/08 - Details of Neslam Windfarm as described on the ScottishPower leaflet sent to residents has now been loaded on the Track the Project section in the Important Links tab of this website. Please note that many of the directly affected properties did not receive this leaflet!
04/07/08 - Scottish Power (aka IBERDROLA) held their public exhibition in Billingborough and Pointon on 1st & 2nd July. AGAST would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to talk and also to pledge their support for the campaign. In particular we would like to say thank you to 2 young supporters who came forward to donate their drawings (shown below) for our display. These are terrific and really do say it all. Never was there a better time for a community to come together. You can read just some of the media coverage on this story at: Residents say NO
Comment: Many of the residents who attended the event were very disappointed that Scottish Power did not deliver a formal presentation to explain the project. In addition to this they would also have liked an open question and answer session where they could have listened to members of the community expressing their views.
Apart from a similar format event held over 2 years ago Scottish Power have had no communication or held any formal consultation with the community. After all this community is expected to host the proposed project for 25 or more years. Scottish Power state "Consultation is crucial to ensuring that the project development incorporates the views of the various interested parties". One of the KEY interested parties or stakeholders is the LOCAL COMMUNITY. The developer further states "We will ensure that the local community has the opportunity to contribute to the environmental impact assessment of windfarms by engaging them throughout the development process". This community HAS NOT been engaged and the EIA is near completion.
The issues surrounding industrial wind power are both many and complex. We do all fully understand the need for security of energy supply however at what expense. As a community we shall NOT be receiving any benefit for the hosting but instead not only will the ability to enjoy the amenity of ones own home be compromised but many residents in the area stand to lose the value of their homes too. All we get from the wind industry is " We are right, you do not understand"!
MAY 2008
27/05/08 - ** RED ALERT ** - IBERDROLA have finally come forward to reveal the true extent of their plans. They have booked the Pointon Village Hall for what they have termed a "seminar" on 2nd July 3pm - 9pm. We would actively encourage as many of you to attend as possible, preferably in groups so that you can get to hear the same answers. Based upon the lastest up todate research we must all say "NO" to the siting of industrial turbines within 2km of residential properties.
APRIL 2008
09/04/08 - We shall be publicising details of the next community event within the coming weeks. Please check back regularly for details and do contact us should you have any ideas on topics that you would be particularly interested in.
** Please check out the latest news feed that has been added to the Important Links page.
March 2008
ALERT: Meeting arranged for Community on 26th March
"Living with Wind Turbines" - Noise Pollution from Turbines
Join us for the first in the series of educational events arranged for the parish of Pointon & Sempringham and the surrounding villages. In this talk Jane & Julian Davis, a farming family from Deeping St Nicholas will share their personal experiences on how noise pollution from a neighbouring wind farm has affected their lives. You will also be able to listen to the sound from the turbines which are sited within 930m of the Davis's home.
Date: 26th March 08
Time: 19:00
The Old Ship Inn, Pointon
** 11/03 - South Kesteven District Council planners refused the application from Infinergy to build 10 turbines at Thackson’s Well.
Februray 2008
31/01 - We have added some new links to the Newspaper Articles and Must See Website (Health & Safety) . Articles & links added in the past 2 weeks will have a ** next to their title. Remember it's all about us finding out as much as we can. Remember developers try to pick off one small community such as our Parish so lowering the protest level. We need all like minded people in the affected villages to unite as an area coalition as we will ALL be affected by this development
January 2008
30/01 - Please see the "Track the project" section in Important Links to see the latest information from IBERDROLA on the next steps in the planning process
28/01 - We have contacted the Project Manager at IBERDROLA Renewable Energies for an update on the wind farm proposal. As soon as we hear back we will update you with progress and any important dates
** URGENT UPDATE ** - We have just noticed that our email address has been incorrectly published in the latest edition of "The Parish Matters". Our correct address is: SupportAGAST@aol.com
AGAST launches website for community: www.agast.co.uk If you have any information that you would like us to add to the site then do contact us.
