Celebration!!

We will be meeting at the Bull Inn, Bottesford at 1830 on Sunday, 18th July to celebrate the decision.  All are welcome!

8th July, 2010

Palmer's Hollow appeal dismissed!

It is disappointing we were not awarded costs.  But by applying, it gave us the opportunity to summarise RidgeWind's shortcomings and highlight how ludicrous this application was, following the Thackson's Well dismissal.

To read the decisions please click on the tabs below:

Costs Decision

Thank you so much for your support over the last two and a half years.

Date for a get-together and celebrate to follow.

The Inquiry has finally closed!

The Inquiry finally closed on 23rd June following two weeks of work on closing and costs submissions.

Our closing is a précis of our case and costs (an application for costs) against the developer for our legal and expert's fees at the appeal.  Please click on the tabs below if you would like to read them:

Costs

The last day at the appeal was on 9th June where we discussed the new PPS5 and how, if at all, it affected evidence already given on heritage issues.  We feel the developers won no ground at all.

THE DECISION IS EXPECTED ON 9TH JULY.

It was great to see so many of our supporters on the last day, 30 at one point and only one supporter for the proposal.

REMINDER - Final day of the Inquiry !

This Wednesday 9th June, is the final day of the Inquiry.  Please come along.  The start time is 10am in The VC Hall, Bottesford

Further inquiry day needed - 9th June - 10am in The VC Hall, Bottesford !!

Due to Melton Borough Council's barrister requesting that the developer's heritage expert be cross examined again, another day for the inquiry is required.  It is likely to take a full day and has been set for 9th June at 10am in the VC Hall, Bottesford.   BLOT will again be represented by John Campbell QC.  Closing submissions will be dealt with in writing and the date for a final decision on the proposal is still pending.

Site visit on Wednesday, 7th April !!  Please print and put up NO posters !!

The Inspectors will be visiting the site on Wednesday, 7th April and it would be great to have as many NO posters as possible in all areas affected by the proposal.  Please print the posters and replace the old and tired ones and put more up!  Click here to print the poster....   POSTER

Thank you!

The response to our appeal for more funds has been fantastic.  Those of you who have email addresses have been thanked by email and thank you to those of you who don't.  We decided not to post letters of thanks in order to save money.  We hope you understand.

Press Release:

• The Public Inquiry re. a wind farm just north of Bottesford reconvenes next Monday, 29th March at The VC Hall, Bottesford at 9.30am.

• Blot is pleased that Alan Duncan MP will be speaking against the proposal as he did at the Development Control meeting last August on the first morning.

• The Inquiry is to sit for two days and then the Inspectors are to visit the site for a second time on the third day.  They have asked us to fly the blimp again.

• BLOT is concerned that two days will not be enough to hear all the evidence, closing submissions and to discuss conditions.

• BLOT's Jamie Mawer may be called to give more evidence re. access to the site for hundreds of lorries from the dangerous A52 and the transporting of the forty metre blades through Long Bennington on a moving lorry that lifts one end of the blade over 100ft into the air.  The developer proposes to do this on a vehicle as yet untried and untested as it is unavailable in the UK.   Click here to see a scale drawing of this vehicle.  Transport Vehicle

• BLOT is facing increased costs as the Inquiry has overrun.  Thank you to all those who have generously donated again  The Infinergy appeal in 2008 cost BLOT over £40,000 and in the past eight months we have managed to raise a similar amount.

• The Inquiry is public and it would be good to see as many people there as in February. 

Increased costs faced for extension of appeal .....

The appeal is to run for a further two day (29th and 30th March).  The Inspectors also want to do another site visit on 31st.  We therefore need to fly the blimp (incurring rental and gas costs) again.  It is such a powerful visual tool in our favour.

While we hate to ask for more, we really do need the extra funds.  If you can help, please do, or if you know anyone else who doesn't want industrial turbines here and who hasn't yet donated, please ask them to support us.  Even small donations are an enormous help.

Please send cheques payable to BLOT to BLOT, Endcliffe Farm, Allington, Grantham, Lincs. NG32 2DJ or give us a ring if you would like to discuss anything - 01949 842353.

Thank you for your continuing support.  Pandora Mawer - Chairman

Inquiry Continues - 29th & 30th March - Bottesford Village Hall 9.30am

BLOT now need extra funding as our QC and planning expert need to return.  Any help towards this will be gratefully received.  We will keep the extra expenses to a minimum by offering our QC accommodation in one of our homes.  But we still need to pay his extra fees.

The extra days are needed because not all the evidence was able to be heard in the eight days originally scheduled.  The two extra days will include evidence from BLOT's Jamie Mawer re. the transport of the blades to the site and the number of lorries required to transport all the aggregates.  These issues were not resolved when Jamie gave evidence on the eighth day as RidgeWind had not done their homework and did not have all the information to hand.  Planning evidence, conditions and closing submissions also need to be heard.  BLOT is concerned that two days extra may still not be enough!  

The Inspectors will also be conducting a further site visit on 31st March.

NB:  29th March was selected as the first date when all barristers were available.

The new date for the decision is 30th April, 2010.

The Inquiry has begun! 

We are keeping a running diary - RidgeWind Appeal Diary - if you would like to keep up to date with the proceedings.

RidgeWind appeal inquiry to be held on Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th and Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th February, 2010 at 10am

The appeal is to be decided on the basis of a Public Inquiry to be held at Bottesford Village Hall on Tuesday 9th to Friday 12th and Tuesday 16th to Friday 19th February, 2010 at 10am. Two Inspectors appointed by the Secretary of State will be present at this meeting.

Members of the public may attend the Inquiry and we urge all our supporters to try and be there.  A site inspection will take place on 8th February.  Please would everyone print our NO posters and put them up in all areas affected by the proposal, i.e. Bottesford, Sedgebrook, Allington, Normanton, etc.  POSTER

20th December, 2009

Blottery Grand Christmas Draw!

The Blottery Grand Christmas Draw took place at The Bull in Bottesford on Thursday, 17th December.  The first ticket for a prize of £500.00 was drawn by Geoffrey Fell and subsequent prizes by Jeff Stansfield.

We raised a total of £4,600!  Thank you to all who supported us.  A list of the prize winners can be found here:  Prize Winners

Officials cover up wind farm noise report !!

Essential reading published in The Sunday Times!  Read more ...

Transportation of turbine blades !

Click on the following link to see how RidgeWind intend to transport the turbine blades through Long Bennington Village!  Transportation of blades 

BLOT will be holding an update meeting on Thursday, 10th December at 7.30pm in Long Bennington Village Hall.

BLOT LAUNCHES THE BLOTTERY - GRAND CHRISTMAS DRAW!!!

Tickets for the Blottery are £1 each (£5 a book) and available for sale at The Bull in Bottesford, Arnolds in Long Bennington, Sienna's Shop in Long Bennington, The Welby Arms in Allington and The Village Shop in Allington.  The draw will take place on 17th December at 7pm at The Bull in Bottesford.

Fantastic prizes include:

• 1st prize      £500.00 !!!
• 2nd prize     A days shooting kindly donated by The Saltby Estate
• 3rd prize     One week's free accommodation in this 4 bed town house in Florida (8-10 people - 7 nights - low season only between Jan 2010 and Feb 2011)  Can be upgraded to mid, high or peak season at additional cost of £50 - £150 depending on season.  Additional weeks can be purchased if available.  Can be upgraded to a 5 bed villa (10-12 people) as follows:  5 Bed Villa  (Low season dates are: 8.1.10 - 30.1.10, 5.9.10 - 16.10.10, 1.11.10 - 20.11.10, 8.1.11 - 10.2.11) £300 security deposit is required 30 days prior to arrival.  After the home is checked, this will be refunded within 7 days of departure.  Pool heating cost will be extra.

Other prizes include:  £60 meal for two at the Reindeer in Long Bennington; Vintage wine; Under sevens kids party at White House Day Nursery, Sedgebrook; Aromatherapy head/neck massage by Paula Hinton; £25 voucher for beauty treatment at The Attic Retreat, Allington; Sunday lunch for two at the Rutland Arms, Bottesford; Half case of wine donated by The Shop, Allington; Half case of wine donated by The Welby, Allington; £20 Voucher for floral display by Petal, Allington; Chocolate cake from The Olde Cafe, Bottesford; Bottle of Gin; Case of French wine; Two bottles of SA wine.

For further information on the Blottery, please contact BLOT at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

RidgeWind make more changes to their application !!

RidgeWind advertised various changes to their application in the local papers last week.  BLOT has put together a response to these which include moving the substation to the side of Beacon Hill and a relocation of the construction compound.  Click here to read BLOT's response - BLOT response.  If anyone wishes to comment, please send letters to the Inspectorate by 16th November.  For reference, the following are his details:

Alan Ridley, The Planning Inspectorate, 4/04 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN

NEW - PROPOSED UK LAW ON WIND FARM “BUFFER ZONES” !!

A piece of legislation to control the distance between wind farms and the nearest house is to be introduced into the Commons next month. Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff, will introduce the “Onshore Wind Turbines (Proximity of Habitation) Bill” on November 3rd. Using the so-called 10 minute rule procedure, MP Peter Luff will speak for up to ten minutes, making the case for his bill to proceed to the next stage. He 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.

We recommend that you lobby your MP as a constituent:

1.     to support this bill and
2.     ask them to confirm they will support this bill

Email addresses are below:
 
Our Local Members of Parliament

Alan Duncan, MP (Conservative) - Member for Rutland and Melton
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Douglas Hogg, MP (Conservative) - Member for Sleaford and North Hykeham
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Patrick Mercer, MP (Conservative) - Member for Newark and Retford
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

A Message from the Chairman of BLOT !!

Thank you all for your continuing support.  

We face another appeal in February 2010 due to the ludicrous planning system and the gall of developers.  Common sense would suggest the appeal should be dismissed due to the decision last year; however we are not prepared, after two years' work, to leave the fight solely in the Council's hands.  Melton are only citing one reason for refusal:  historical assets, which we feel leaves us all vulnerable.  Although the Inspector has guidelines and policies to follow, it is up to him to interpret them and apply them to this site.  We intend to support fully the Council's case but also to add landscape, amenity and any other issue our QC suggests.

IF RIDGEWIND'S APPEAL IS SUCCESSFUL, A DEVELOPER WILL PROBABLY APPLY ON THE INFINERGY SITE.

We are happy to carry on operationally but need help to raise money or for you to DONATE.  We have already received some very generous donations and know with your help the rest coud be raised.

We will run a 'Blottery' in November and already have some good prizes but need more.  We hope to raise at least £5,000 from ticket sales and need our supporters to help sell tickets in the surrounding villages.  We intend the draw to take place in mid-December in time for Christmas.

Please offer us some help by emailing us:  WHAT CAN I DO.

Pandora Mawer 

BLOT launches FIGHTING FUND! Come to our meeting in Bottesford on 16th October to hear more ...

BLOT has launched a Fighting Fund to protect the Vale of Belvoir against RidgeWind who have lodged a planning appeal for the proposed development of 8 wind turbines (328ft high), mast and access roads, etc. North East of Bottesford.  WE NEED YOUR HELP!  Donations are needed now to raise substantial funds to pay for experts to represent our community group at the planning inquiry on 9th February, 2010. All donations, both large or small, are welcome.  Cheques (made out to BLOT) can be sent to:

BLOT, Endcliffe Farm, Allington, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 2DJ

OR credit card donations can be sent through Paypal via our website: Donations

To FIND OUT MORE, please come along to our meeting where BLOT will give a brief outline of the current position regarding Palmers Hollow and take questions from anyone present.

Friday, 16th October - 7.30pm at Belvoir High School, Bottesford

Objections to the Inspectorate must be received by this Friday, 25th September!

Previous objection letters sent to Melton Borough Council will be forwarded to the Inspectorate but a further letter will add extra weight and show even greater feeling against the Palmers Hollow wind farm application.  When writing, please include the following Reference Number: 

APP/Y2430/A/09/2108595

and keep your objections based on planning or local issues.  For example:

Planning Issues - Inappropriate site, National/Regional/Local policies, Recent Government policies/Strategy.

Local Issues - Historic asset, Landscape, Residential impact, Loss of amenity, Highways, Footpaths, Safety, Noise/Health

The email address to send your representation is:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

And the postal address:

Alan Ridley, The Planning Inspectorate, 4/04 Eagle Wing, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN

Five MBC Councillors vote to refuse planning for a wind farm at Palmer's Hollow - one Councillor abstains

The Development Control Meeting took place last night in Bottesford Village Hall.  Speakers from BLOT and RidgeWind were given time to voice their opinions.  After a brief summing up the Councillors were asked to vote.  Five Councillors supported the Planning Officer's recommendation to refuse planning and one Councillor abstained.  This was merely a formality because this application has already gone to appeal on non-determination.

Melton Borough Council's Planning Officer publishes her recommendation to REFUSE planning permission for a wind farm at Palmer's Hollow!

MBC will make their decision on 27th August at the meeting in Bottesford Village Hall commencing at 5.30pm.  To read the Planning Officer's recommendation, please visit:  MBC Refusal

BLOT hopes that there will be a good turnout at the meeting.

Melton Borough Council confirm 27th August Development Control Meeting to go ahead!

Despite the fact that RidgeWind have gone to appeal for non-determination, the meeting will still be taking place at Bottesford Village Hall on 27th August at 6pm. 

Please try to attend this meeting.  It is still important to show all concerned the strength of local opposition to the application. 

MBC wish to go through the process, allow the Councillors a chance to vote and reach a decision - for the record.  Anyone who wrote to object will shortly receive a letter from MBC.  It will inform you that BLOT have been given half an hour to speak against the proposal.  We will include the reasons for our objection, listed below.  A copy of our full objection is available in Bottesford Library.  

If you have any other burning issues you wish us to include, please get in touch, bearing in mind it has to be a planning point.  Otherwise, we will presume you are happy for us to speak on behalf of our supporters.

Planning Issues

Thacksons Well Inquiry/Inspector's Report

Local Issues

Noise/Health

RidgeWind by-pass local democracy!

Ridgewind are by-passing local democracy and are appealing to the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds that Melton Borough Council have not made a decision in the time allowed (non-determination).  If the Inspectorate accepts this appeal it will mean MBC will have to find thousands of pounds to hire legal representation for the Inquiry.  (It cost SKDC £150,000 for the Infinergy Inquiry).

BLOT raised the possibility of this outcome with MBC in May but was assured RidgeWind would not apply for non-determination as they admitted delays were due to their late amendments, i.e. increasing the blade size of their turbines.

At this time it is not clear if the meeting on 27th August will still go ahead.  We are communicating with MBC and will inform everyone as soon as any decisions are made.  We are also in close communication with our planning and legal experts in order to be completely prepared for any eventuality and the possibility of yet another Inquiry.

Read the following articles in local papers:  Melton Times and Leicester Mercury

Development Control Meeting set for Thursday, 27th August at Bottesford Village Hall at 6pm

The meeting has been specially convened by Melton Borough Council to consider the Palmers Hollow wind farm application.  BLOT is concerned that such a sensitve meeting is being held so close to the August bank holiday weekend and during the holiday period.  We do hope that there will be a large attendance despite this.  It is vital that the councillors are given a clear indication of the strength of local feeling against this application.  So please earmark this important date.

Please note:  Vice Chairman of Development Control, Mrs. Pru Chandler, will have to concede her vote due to prejudicial interest.

RidgeWind: BLOT submits objection to Melton Borough council!

Our comprehensive objection to Ridgewind's application for a wind farm at Palmer's Hollow has been submitted to Melton Borough Council.  We have asked the Planning Officer to take it into account when compiling her report for the Planning Committee.  This is the culmination of months of hard work on the part of BLOT and includes a written objection with appendices and photograph volume of the blimp.  Bottesford Library will have a copy next week for all to see.

We have been assured that the Planning Committee Meeting will be held in Bottesford and BLOT will be given more than the normal three minutes to speak.  As soon as we have been informed of the date, we will post it on the website.

If you have any questions, please get in touch with us via one of the email addresses on Contact BLOT. 

RidgeWind increase the height and rotor size of their turbines!

Melton Borough Council have received supplementary information about RidgeWind's application to build 8 wind turbines at Palmer's Hollow.  The turbine size has been increased from 95 metres to 100 metres.  In addition, the rotor size has increased from 70 metres to 82 metres diameter, enlarging the swept area by over 1,400 square metres for each turbine.  We are advised that the proposed make of turbines is the MM82, which is the same turbine erected at Deeping St. Nicholas and which has caused so many problems for the Davis family.  Read about their experiences here:  Davis Statement

To read the full supplementary information document, please visit Melton Borough Council's website  Melton Borough Council  The Application number is 08/00990/FUL.

BLOT is talking to Melton Borough Council about this latest development and will keep you informed of any outcome.

(See News Flash for more news and information).

Please note, the RidgeWind Application Number is: 08/00990/FUL

BELVOIR LOCALS OPPOSE TURBINES (BLOT) is a group of local residents who are opposed to the development of industrial wind farms in the area of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, popularly known as the Vale of Belvoir.

BLOT is not opposed to the development of clean or renewable energy sources nor is it opposed to off-shore wind turbine development. It is opposed to on-shore wind farms, particularly in proximity to residential communities because of their inefficiency and their potential impact on the health and quality of life of those living or working nearby.

To see BLOT's Constitution, please click the following link: Constitution

PLEASE SIGN THE NATIONWIDE 2KM RADIUS PETITION!!!

Click here: Petition

The following map shows the new extended area of the proposed RidgeWind wind farm:

The area bounded by the villages of Bottesford, Normanton, Staunton, Long Bennington, Foston, Allington, Sedgebrook, Muston and Easthorpe.

News Flash !!!