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Wind farm scheme is unveiled again
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A ‘monstrous eyesore’ could soon blight the countryside near Burton after a renewable energy firm revived plans for a wind farm – two years after similar plans were abandoned.
Airtricity, an international company which operates across Europe and North America, has revealed plans to build eight 300ft turbines in Bagot’s Park, near Abbots Bromley.
It claims that building the turbines will bring £3 million of business to the East Staffordshire economy, as well as providing 25 jobs over the construction period of 12 to 15 months.
However, a previous scheme by ABEnergy to install wind turbines in the same location was dropped in 2005 after vociferous opposition from villagers.
The controversial application rumbled on for more than three years, before ABEnergy ran out of time and a planning application to East Staffordshire Borough Council was withdrawn.
However, Airtricity has now revived the scheme and has announced three presentation events in a bid to persuade villagers to end their opposition.
Alex Fornal, the company’s project manager, said: “We expect to submit the proposals to East Staffordshire Borough Council for approval through their consent process before the end of the year.
“The proposed wind farm will contribute towards targets set by the Government for generating increasing amounts of electricity from renewable sources, and help to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels such as coal, oil or gas.”
However, not all are convinced that Abbots Bromley is the right place for a wind farm. Alex Fox, leader of the council and member for the Bagots ward where the farm is proposed, said: “If this goes ahead, we will be left with a monstrous eyesore of little use of no value in 20 years time.
“Do we want East Staffordshire to be covered in wind farms when the advantages are not clear cut?
“In the last application, it was proven that the quality of the wind was insufficient to keep wind farms operating over a 24-hour period – which meant there would be no impact on the carbon footprint, because Rugeley Power Station would have to stay open.”
The presentations will be held at Uttoxeter Town Hall between 11am and 4pm on Friday, at Marchington Woodlands Village Hall, in the village’s Tinkers Lane, between 2pm and 8pm on Monday and at Abbots Bromley Village Hall, off Bagot Street, again between 2pm and 8pm in a week’s time.
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