Villagers fear conservation will be ruined by turbines 

Angry Saundby villagers say a planned wind farm between them and the Trent will blight the landscape and ruin wildlife.

The six turbines planned for land off Ramper Road could stand at a maximum of 436 feet (133 metres) and residents say the impact will be too much for the village to take.

Applicant Partnership for Renewables (PfR) put in plans to create the wind farm, which it says is the appropriate size for the area, last week.

Beckingham-cum-Saundby Parish Council is opposing the proposals and calling on people to come forward with their objections.

“We’ll be mounting a fight against this,” said council chair, Kevin Senior.

“We don’t believe it’s worthy of putting down in the Trent Valley which is already littered with industry, including four power stations.

“The villages voted against these plans before and nothing’s changed.”

The council will hold an open surgery at The Recreation Room on The Green in Beckingham on Thursday, June 5, between 3pm and 7pm for people to give their views about the project.

The authority’s concerns were backed by Saundby villagers who are worried about the effect the turbines could have on their lives.

“Beckingham Marshes is in a Zone 3 flood area which we believe is not suitable for any development and should not be permitted,” said one Saundby resident, who did not want to be named.

“The site is very near the conservation area in Saundby, where there is a Grade I Listed church and Grade II Listed properties, which will have a direct view of the turbines.

“The turbines would threaten the rural setting.

“The RSPB has a wetland reserve within 420 metres. The wildlife that flies between Lea Marshes and Beckingham Marshes reserves we believe would be affected

“The density and size of the turbines we believe are too many for the area. The turbines will have a visual and noise impact and will impede on living conditions.”

Other objections highlighted the visual disturbance the turbines would create if given the go-ahead.

“We are surrounded by turbines at Wheatley Wood and West Burton power station,” said one objector.

“The visual impact of these is enough and I object to introducing six 133m turbines.”

PfR says it wants to give people living near the proposed site a chance to view the plans and discuss them at drop-in surgeries.

Jerry Sturman, the regional manager for PfR, said: “I am delighted that after several years of careful project development and consultations with the local community and a wide range of statutory and non-statutory organisations, we have now submitted our application for the Saundby site.

“The various studies carried out as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment have shown the site to be appropriate for a wind energy development of this size.

“We look forward to discussing the application further with Bassetlaw District Council over the coming weeks and months.

“In the meantime we are looking forward to meeting members of the local community again at the two drop-in surgeries we will shortly be holding. ”

The drop in surgeries will be held today (Thursday, May 29) from 3pm – 7pm at The Recreation Room in Beckingham.

There is also one on Friday, May 30, from 3pm – 7pm at the United Reformed Church on Church Street, Gainsborough.

The company says it will plough £75,000 a year for the life of the farm, thought to be 25 years, into community projects.