Hsgwag update feb2011

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Next Steps
We must now wait for the Council to confirm when the Development
Control Committee will meet in order to decide the application’s fate.
The Council have not yet set date and it could be many months before we hear a decision. This delay is due to the contentious and complex nature of the application. We will let everyone know on our website as soon as we hear any information.
For those unfamiliar with the process, the Planning Officer will make his recommendation and then the Development Control Committee
(comprised of elected Councillors) will discuss the application and make a decision. All members of the public are welcome at this meeting and anyone can also request “3 minutes” of speaking time. It is likely to be held during office hours. As soon as we have the details we will post them on the website and Parish Council noticeboards.
On the evidence presented, we are hopeful that the decision will be to reject! This however is unlikely to be the end of the matter. Wind developers nationwide expect refusals and so it is highly likely that
Broadview would lodge an appeal. This may seem like madness given all the problems identified with their application, but the return on investment is so large it is often worth pursuing further.
If you have any queries, the HSGWAG team would be happy to answer them. The best way to contact us is info@hsgwag.co.uk or please contact the Chairman, Keith Jones on [phone number removed].
February 2011
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HSGWAG UPDATE
HSGWAG Objection to Broadview’s Planning
Application submitted to South Northants
Council
Following months of detailed work, HSGWAG has now submitted its objections in relation to Broadview Energy’s wind farm application to
South Northants Council. For those who wish to see a copy of the final document, please contact the Helmdon Parish Clerk Liz Hart, who will be happy to lend you one. Alternatively, visit www.hsgwag.co.uk where you can view it online or download and print.
A key part of our submission to the Council involved work carried out by professionals. Our barrister, Richard Honey was particularly helpful. The key conclusion of his legal opinion is that the Environmental Statement submitted by Broadview is deficient and consequently it would be unlawful to grant planning permission for an application based upon it.
The landscape architect’s report equally identified issues and omissions within the planning application relating to effects on landscape character and local heritage assets.
The noise consultant raised many points, but the issue of public amenity stood out. ETSU-R-97 is the recommended noise benchmark against which onshore wind proposals are normally judged. Broadview’s proposal does not exceed these limits, but that does not mean that they are

www.hsgwag.co.uk acceptable, especially when they are considered in light of other amenity impacts.
Resident Response
We would like to say a big thank you to all those who have objected so far. By early January, over 400 objections had been lodged at South
Northants Council and many of you have taken the trouble to write your own letters which is fantastic. Your local Councillors have equally been left in no doubt about the strength of local feeling on the matter.
Residents across Greatworth, Helmdon and Sulgrave have really pulled together.
Other Objectors
HSGWAG have been monitoring responses from some of the key statutory consultees to the application. We are pleased to report that a good number of them have expressed concerns similar to our own. The immediate local Parish Councils have also objected.
Andrea Leadsom
Our local MP, Andrea Leadsom has been fully supportive of the campaign from the start and has, in conjunction with a number of other affected
MP’s been lobbying hard on our behalf in both the houses of Parliament and with the relevant Government Ministers and departments.
February 2011
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Broadview Response
Until recently, the number of letters in favour of the application only totalled three, (two of these were genuine locals and the other was a green supporter from Oxfordshire). It appears that this spurred
Broadview into arranging a group of eco-activists to encourage signatures of support in Brackley and Towcester in mid January.
For those of you that haven’t yet heard about this, it was quickly spotted by eagle-eyed residents who happened to be in town on the days in question. We have been told that passers-by were asked to sign and put their address to a letter to be sent to SNC. Wind developers know that the only chance of finding lots of people to sign in support is to move away from the area directly affected. It is a common tactic seen in many planning applications for onshore wind across the country.
A Helmdon resident who was standing at the stall, watched as one passer-by signed on the basis of only being asked whether she was “pro-
wind” –so had no idea that it was a letter for a specific local planning application. HSGWAG even received a phone call from a concerned individual who lives in a village over 15 miles away. The caller reported watching the group in Towcester and was amazed at the misleading way in which the signatures were being obtained.
Whilst these tactics reflect badly on Broadview and confirm the poor regard they hold for the communities they plan to impact, residents should not be too concerned. Decision makers are generally wise to such practices and letters generated in this way are given little weight.