Sir, – The front page article in your April 3 Cleveland edition clearly indicated the determination of wind turbine developers to proceed with planning applications for areas of the countryside that are totally unsuitable.
Councillors on the planning committees of Hambleton and Stockton councils acted responsibly and diligently in considering more than 1,000 pages of fact and fiction in the developer’s original application and all the comment letters from the general public. This led to both councils rejecting the proposed development, for valid planning reasons.
Several months later our councils are faced with further planning applications for the same number of wind turbines in the same locations. The visual impact and risks to health and safety remain the same as before. We must applaud our councillors for their dedication last time around and believe they will be just as effective in considering the renewed applications.
Broadview’s recent press release and newsletter is a misleading attempt to support their case for a wind turbine application.
No wonder the Advertising Standards Agency recently upheld four out of seven complaints against Broadview’s “Low Spinney wind farm public consultation”. Based on actual performance figures for other wind turbines in the North- East, they cannot substantiate some of the numbers quoted.
An obvious question to ask is why are these wind turbine developers so determined to press ahead? The answer is simple: greed.
The huge profits to these developers from the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) subsidy set up by the Government, means this is the most highly subsidised product in UK history.
It is yet another Government stealth tax as this subsidy is added to household electricity bills. So whilst we are all in the throes of a deep recession and many are struggling to make ends meet, these companies are adding to our financial problems with inflated electricity charges.
This subsidy is so important that the British Wind Energy Association stated: “The Conservative proposals would end all support for onshore wind and cripple the UK wind industry” after the Conservative Party’s quality of life policy review.
Even worse, despite the billions that wind developers receive in subsidy, BWEA recently told the Government it is not enough and it wants even greater financial support. Never has so little cost us all so much.
COLIN QUINN Holme Lane, Seamer
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