West Coast Energy are applying for planning permission to develop a wind farm on Matlock Moor.
News Update
Monday 1st February 2010
Public Inquiry starts 9th February 2010 - for more information see NEDDC website
It has become evident that some of our supporters are unaware of the NEDDC website which is up to date with all the documentation and submissions from all the parties who will be appearing at the forthcoming Matlock Moor Wind Farm Public Inquiry. For those of you who may wish to be brought up to date or informed of the current position this website contains all the documentation relating to the proposed wind farm planning application and subsequent appeal by West Coast Energy Ltd.
Details of how to access this information are as follows:
Visit this page on the NEDDC website, click on "I agree to the terms and conditions below", click on "associated documents", and Hey Presto!!, hours of reading should now be at your fingertips!
Please note, some of the files are very big and therefore can take a while to download. You will also find that some of the files are not in correct date order. You will find AMP's evidence submissions towards the bottom of the page.
I hope this will be of some assistance.
Regards from Dick Glaves / Keith Moore and all the AMP team
PS. Please try to attend, and if possible, paticipate at the public speaking day (which is on the 11th February, starting at 9-30am, in the Town Hall in Matlock). This will be an informal session when the public are invited to have their say. You may speak for up to 20 minutes. AMP also require your support for the rest of the 4 week Inquiry period, we will be pleased to see those of you who can find the time to attend, even if only for a day or so.
News Archive
Monday 18th January 2010
Public Inquiry, 9th February 2010
The AMP action committee has been extremely busy during the last few months since the Planning Committee Members at both Derbyshire Dales District Council and North East Derbyshire District Council voted to support their Planning Officer’s recommendation to oppose the planning application for a wind farm on Matlock Moor. This committee support has enabled both Local Planning Authorities to release funding (albeit limited) to facilitate a strong response.
It is largely as a result of AMP’s activities and our lobbying for support from the LPA’s ( Local Planning Authorities ) that we have achieved the excellent results to date.
This communication is to notify everyone of the forthcoming Public Inquiry, when the West Coast Energy planning application for a Wind Farm on Matlock Moor will be contested before a Planning Inspector.
This inquiry is to be held at the Town Hall, Matlock, commencing on Tuesday the 9th Feb at 10.00am and is scheduled for four weeks. After the opening day the Inquiry will normally commence at 9.30am Tuesday to Friday, each week. If you can spare the time, AMP will appreciate your support for the entirety of the Inquiry.
Thursday the 11th February has been set aside at the Inquiry for the public to express their views. The AMP committee request your support, particularly on this public participation day. If you have a view against the proposed wind farm, and you are able to attend the Inquiry, AMP will greatly appreciate any verbal contribution that you can add to the debate (you will be able to speak for up to 20 minutes). Don’t be afraid to come forward, we have been assured that this part of the Inquiry will be very informal.
The AMP committee through our barrister and expert witness evidence will be presenting a very robust case which has been designed to compliment and enhance the evidence which will be presented by the LPA’s.
We ask everyone with an interest in the outcome of this Inquiry to please make the effort to help us to help you defeat this planning application.
Assuring you of our determination to defeat this application.
Kind regards Dick Glaves / Keith Moore for AMP
PS. We still require funding. AMP are currently committed to spending more on expert fees than we currently have in the bank. If you can assist, this will be greatly appreciated.
Tuesday 22nd September 2009
Local Councils Oppose Wind Farm Scheme
Derbyshire Dales District Council and North East Derbyshire District Council vote to oppose West Coast Energy’s Wind Farm Scheme
Derbyshire Dales District Council and North East Derbyshire District Council both voted to back their planning officers report and AMP and recommend that the proposed West Coast Energy’s Wind Farm Scheme designated for Matlock Moor should be refused.
This was originally meant to be the final decision on the plans for the wind farm. However, because the district councils took too long to come to a decision, developer Derbyshire Wind Energy, a subsidiary company of West Coast Energy appealed on the ground of "non-determination".
The proposal for the wind farm will now be put before the Government Inspector on Tuesday February 9th of next year. This means that AMP will have will have to commit many more hours of preparation work and financial resources to the cause. The appeal is likely to last up to four weeks.
AMP’s barrister is already working on your behalf and he will be calling expert witnesses.
It should be noted that NO relevant consultees or organizations are in favour of the wind farm development. The following organisations have objected to the proposed wind farm.
- Natural England
- English Heritage
- RSPB
- Derbyshire County Council
- Peak District National Park Authority
- Derbyshire Ornithological Society
- Derbyshire Wildlife Trust
- Friends of the Peak District (CPRE)
- South Peak Raptor Study Group
- Campaign for National Parks
- Darley Dale Town Council
- Ashover Parish Council
- Tansley Parish Council
- Matlock Town Council
- Ramblers Association – Derbyshire Dales Group
- Rt. Hon. Patrick McLoughlin MP.
- Zycomm – Ripley Derbyshire
You Can Still Do Your bit
AMP would ask you, if you don’t want these industrial sized turbines to appear on the ridge to support us in two ways
Firstly
Write to the Planning Inspectorate, if you haven’t already done so, outlining your objection. Write to Room 4/04, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN. Quote reference APP/P1045/A/09/2108037.
Secondly
By sending a donation
Please consider making a donation if you haven’t already done so
To date AMP have spent thousands of hours of their time, free of charge, and met the high financial cost to date. We have now drawn a line under this expenditure. We are still short of funds, we have to reach our target to facilitate an effective opposition to this planning application. Our committee of six couples have given a further £20,000 to the fund.
The state of our finances to date are:
| AMP donation by 6 committee members | £20,000 |
| 4 Local Residents | £8,000 |
| 3 Local Residents | £2,500 |
| Other Donations | £2,030 |
| £32,530 |
We are nearly there, only a further £8,000 is required. We need urgently to raise £40,000 minimum to enable AMP to pay for our highly regarded barrister, to whom we are now committed, and other expert witnesses to represent and complement our evidence at the Public Inquiry (which is scheduled to last up to FOUR WEEKS). A barrister is an absolute requirement to compliment and cover the scope of work which will not be undertaken by the District Council’s barrister and Landscape Architect.
If you live in the vicinity of the proposed wind farm, and especially if you are able to see the mast ( which is less than half the height of the proposed turbines) from your house then the value of your home will most certainly be downgraded by the proposed wind power station. Even if your home value is reduced by only 5-10% you will see that £40,000 to employ a barrister is a fair price to pay for every home in the area maintaining its current value.
I mentioned previously that well wishers are donating money to our fund; these have come from many parts of the country including Essex, Suffolk, Cambridge and the North East. AMP believe, as the local community will be effected most, we should be the ones making the donations.
AMP are, and have always been, convinced that a wind power station on Matlock Moor and other turbines planned in close proximity will fail to obtain planning permission. Rejection however entails a long and expensive slog and on the financial side we urgently require further help.
Can we ask you again, if you haven’t already done so to please make a donation and make your cheques payable to AMP and send your donations to Mr. Keith Moore, Charlestown, Jaggers Lane, Darley Moor, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5LH.
AMP will continue to work hard on behalf of those who will be effected by and oppose this particular massive and inappropriate development on Matlock Moor.
Thank you on behalf of the AMP committee
Saturday 15th August 2009
Community welcomes Peak Park’s total opposition to ‘industrial’ wind-farm on Matlock Moor
Opposition to Matlock Moor Wind Farm does not mean ‘no’ to action on climate change, says National Park Authority
Community campaign group Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal (AMP) today welcomed yesterday’s unanimous decision by the Peak District National Park Authority to reject West Coast Energy’s troubled scheme to build a major wind farm within 1.5 miles of the national park boundary.
A report to the Peak Park’s planning committee had condemned the controversial plan for five turbines, with blade-tips up to 126 metres high - well above twice the height of Nelson’s Column, as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘harmful’.
In a damning assessment of WCE’s planning assessment, the Peak Park blasted the Welsh firm for an ‘inadequate and misleading’ assessment of the scheme’s impact on the environment.
WCE last month opted to by-pass the democratic process by forcing the scheme to a planning appeal, which will be ruled on by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, currently John Denham MP.
The Peak Park yesterday urged the Secretary of State to reject that appeal, which will go before a Planning Inspector in February.
Commenting on the news, Keith Moore of Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal (AMP) said:
‘Yesterday’s decision is a hammer blow to West Coast Energy’s unwanted, industrial-scale turbines.
‘What the Peak Park has said very clearly is that opposing Matlock Moor Wind Farm does not mean saying “no” to action on climate change.
‘To their great credit, those charged with caring for the beautiful Peak District have just published the Peak Sub-Region Climate Change Study, which identifies the potential for renewables and low-carbon technologies in sensitive landscape areas.
‘It is the recommendations of this action plan to tackle climate change, rather than West Coast’s grubby planning application, that those who really care about our environment will be rallying behind.’
Keith Moore added:
‘The Peak Park Authority has made clear the threat to our local tourist economy posed by a huge industrial development on this scale.
‘Trashing our landscape is no way to tackle climate change.
‘West Coast Energy should cut its losses and abandon its unwanted scheme.’
Monday 13th July 2009
West Coast Energy Initiates Costly Planning Appeal
West Coast Energy has turned its back on the democratic planning process and has initiated a costly planning appeal.
The troubled application to build five wind turbines on Matlock Moor has hit a new crisis this week as it emerges that the developer has given up on its attempts to persuade elected local councils to accept the controversial plans.
Developers, West Coast Energy, have told the planning authorities, North East Derbyshire District Council and the Derbyshire Dales District Council, that they will be appealing directly to the Planning Inspector and by passing the local Councils.
Elected local representatives of the communities affected by the application will now have no direct say in determining this application. The decision by West Coast Energy to by-pass the councils in this way and proceed with the appeal process is viewed by AMP as being disrespectful of local opinion.
The move is being seen as a sign of desperation on the part of the developers, who have faced a raft of opposition to the plans from voluntary and statutory organisations throughout the area.
The list of opponents to the scheme now include:-
- English Heritage
- Friends of the Peak (Council for the Protection of Rural England, CPRE)
- Derbyshire County Council
- Derbyshire Ornithological Society (plus other supporting ornithological expert letters)
- RSPB
- South Peak Raptor Group
- Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (Chief Executive)
- Derbyshire Wildlife Trust (Senior Local Wildlife Sites Officer)
- Ashover Parish Council
- Campaign for National Parks
- Natural England
Commenting on the news, Keith Moore of Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal (AMP) said: ‘West Coast Energy are clearly rattled that, on planning grounds, their application was heading for an extremely frosty reception from the elected representatives of the local communities who sit on the two relevant planning committees.
‘This decision tells you everything you need to know about West Coast’s colonial attitude towards Derbyshire – to them, it’s just a greenfield site for development to further their appetite for profit, regardless of the grassroots concerns they have faced.
‘With a recent scheme fallen apart in Scotland, a High Court decision pending on Carsington and now the extra cost of the Matlock Moor planning inquiry in the offing, West Coast’s financial backers will be asking what they have got themselves into.
‘It should be a lesson to them as to what happens when you submit a planning application riddled with errors on a site that is not deemed suitable from a planning policy perspective.
‘The local community and AMP will continue to fight this unwanted scheme.’
Tuesday 16th June 2009
Grass-roots revolt against wind farms
New national alliance of community action groups formed to challenge turbines’ impact on communities and countryside
A new national alliance of over 30 local action groups against wind farm development in the British countryside has been launched today.
The new group – to be known as the National Alliance of Wind Farm Action Groups (NAWAG) – brings together community organisations from England, Scotland and Wales who are standing up to the financial muscle of wind farm developers, rushing to capitalise on the public subsidies that sweeten the construction and operation of turbines.
The launch members of NAWAG will recruit as many as possible of the estimated 200-plus local action groups in existence across Britain, to create a powerful and authoritative voice for communities in the face of the highly resourced pro-wind lobby.
NAWAG will campaign to raise the profile of a range of issues, including:
- the adverse visual impact of inappropriately sited turbines on the British countryside
- the health and amenity impacts of turbines being built too close to people’s homes and places of work, arguing for a 2km exclusion zone
- the threat to habitats and wildlife from turbines, especially to bats and birds
- the ‘cowboy’ techniques of wind farm developers looking to force turbines on communities
- the fact that wind energy cannot reduce reliance on conventional, carbon-emitting energy sources, as wind provides an inconsistent level of supply to the national grid
- the potential damage to tourism jobs from wind farms
The emergence of the group comes as a spate of controversial planning applications has emerged in beauty spots throughout the UK in the year that more people than ever are expected to take their holidays in the UK.
Affected communities are now being increasingly ‘worn down’ by ruthless developers who submit repeated planning applications, securing permission through a process of attrition.
An initial focus of the group’s activities will be its engagement with the Conservative Shadow Cabinet, many of whose members actively oppose wind farm developments in their home constituencies.
Commenting of the launch of the organisation, their spokesman said:
“For too long, the ‘greenwash’ of the wind industry has gone unchallenged, and that stops today. As anyone who has come up against the pro-wind lobby will tell you, behind wind power’s ‘cuddly’ image lies a cynical and harsh reality.
“Communities up and down the country are simply not prepared to stand by and let our landscape be disfigured by wind turbines that will do little or nothing to stop climate change, less still secure our energy supply.
“Beautiful Britain is everyone’s backyard: every landscape is at risk of industrialisation from a wind lobby high on public subsidy and hungry for profits.”
He added:
“NAWAG will provide a voice and a resource for all current and future community action groups looking to oppose wind farm applications.”
For further information please email windaction@hotmail.com.
The launch members of NAWAG represent groups in the following county areas:
Angus, Caithness, Carmarthenshire, Cambridgeshire, Ceredigion, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Herefordshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Powys, and West Stirlingshire.
Monday 18th May 2009
Campaigners publish shock image of wind turbines’ impact on Derbyshire countryside
A shocking new image of a rash of wind turbines disfiguring the Derbyshire countryside has been published by local campaigners in the fight to stop Matlock Moor Wind Farm.
West Coast Energy has submitted a controversial application to erect five, 126-metre wind turbines close to the Peak District National Park.
Local campaign group Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal (AMP) today released the new image of what that application, if approved, could unleash – a procession of giant turbines across the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
West Coast Energy has already admitted that it was approached by an owner of land to the south west of the Matlock Moor site last year. A third local site on Beeley Moor is also being targeted by developers and landowners for turbines.
West Coast Energy’s Planning & Development Manager, Matthew Hayes, has told planners: ‘Of course, I cannot legislate for the activities of any other developer.’
The new image from AMP will used as part of an online and postcard campaign, entitled In England’s Green and Pleasant Land. Local people are being urged to take action to protect the landscape they love – before it is too late.
Copy alongside the photomontage reads:
‘Derbyshire is a beautiful county. We feel proud that so many visitors enjoy our beautiful dales and Peak District. We welcome the jobs tourism brings.
‘But a plan to build five turbines threatens all that. Chances are they could be followed by more – there are a number of other property developers eyeing up our area for the turbine treatment, changing the landscape forever.
‘The rush to build turbines is being driven by government grants and landowners wanting to make a quick buck at the expense of our countryside.
‘We all want action on climate change but wind turbines are not the answer. They require back-up from conventional sources of energy and generate limited electricity.’
AMP will begin mailing the card to local residents this week. Local people can also register their concern on the AMP website, as many already have done.
Commenting on the latest development in the campaign, an AMP spokesman said:
‘People who are proud of Derbyshire will rightly regard with horror the impact these disfiguring turbines will have on our landscape, which is so crucial to local recreation and jobs.
‘The public should regard the Matlock Moor Wind Farm proposal as a Trojan Horse for other schemes, which are teed up to follow in its wake. These other plans are the crucial context for the Matlock Moor proposal, and the public has a right to know this.
‘West Coast Energy rightly anticipates that the public will be concerned at the prospective spread of wind turbines in such a sensitive environment. This is a superb landscape of significant economic and environmental value.
‘The animation of wind turbines is an artists impression of the view of Ashover Church and the Village Showground in the foreground. It is intended to illustrate how the landscape between Beeley Moor and Brackenfield might look if Wind Turbines were to spread along the horizon. It is not intended to represent the turbines proposed by West Coast Energy in their present application.’
Monday 11th May 2009 – Press Release
West Coast Energy admits it held talks over wind farm extension
Developer fails to disclose details of environmental impact in breach of planning rules
Developer West Coast Energy has admitted to planners that it held talks over a possible extension to Matlock Moor Wind Farm.
It the latest twist to the troubled application to erect five, 126-metre wind turbines close to the Peak District National Park, West Coast has told Derbyshire Dales District Council and North East Derbyshire District Council that it was approached by an owner of land to the south west of the Matlock Moor site last year.
In the event, West Coast ruled out the site, not least because it would breach the not very stringent noise limits for wind farms.
West Coast Energy’s Planning & Development Manager, Matthew Hayes, told planners: ‘Of course, I cannot legislate for the activities of any other developer.’
Local campaign group Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal (AMP) has already released information that a third local site on Beeley Moor is also being targeted by developers and landowners for turbines.
West Coast Energy today missed a 14-day deadline for disclosure of the environmental impact assessment of the Matlock Moor extension that led it to conclude that further turbines would breach noise limits.
An AMP spokesman said:
‘The public will now rightly regard the Matlock Moor Wind Farm proposal as a Trojan Horse for other schemes, which are teed up to follow in its wake. These other plans are the crucial context for the Matlock Moor proposal, and the public has a right to know this.
‘West Coast Energy rightly anticipates that the public will be concerned at the prospective spread of wind turbines in such a sensitive environment. This is a superb landscape of significant economic and environmental value.’
He added:
‘Planning rules require developers to provide an assessment of the environmental impact of the available options for wind farm development so that planners can be sure the least harmful is selected. West Coast Energy has now failed to do this in its planning application and in relation to a possible Matlock Moor extension.
‘What’s more, West Coast Energy’s admission that it rejected an investment in a site adjacent to the Matlock Moor application, with all the attendant economies of scale that that might yield, reveals how close to the margins of acceptability Matlock Moor is, if not in breach of those margins, even in the eyes of the applicant.
‘There could be no franker admission that the Matlock Moor application is simply the wrong application in the wrong place.’
Wednesday 6th May 2009 – Press Release
Landscape experts rally to defend Matlock Moor from turbines
Independent landscape experts have launched a major attack on troubled plans by Welsh developers West Coast Energy to build five 126-metre wind turbines in the Derbyshire Dales.
West Coast Energy wants to build what would be among the biggest turbines in England. But information supporting its planning application is today criticised as ‘unreliable and deficient’, and for containing significant errors and inaccuracies.
A report prepared for local campaign group, Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal (AMP), by Julie Martin Associates, a leading firm of landscape consultants, concludes that:
‘The landscape and visual impact assessment that has been provided by the applicant is considered unreliable and deficient in a number of respects.’
The report anticipates ‘major impact to the landscape character’ from the development, due to the fact that the turbines would be out of proportion with the underlying landform, detracting from appreciation of adjoining valley landscapes and interrupting key views and skylines.
‘Levels of impact significance appear to have been seriously underestimated,’ it states.
Today’s report comes in the wake of a damning submission by environmental group, Friends of the Peak District, which attacks West Coast Energy’s application for its ‘significant errors and omissions’.
FPD warns that ‘this development will have a significant adverse impact on a large area of the National Park’, and will be visible from Peak District beauty spots up to 17km away, such as Pikehall, Fridon, Burton Moor, Haddon Fields, Flagg, Taddington Moor, Eyam Moor and Longstone Edge.
It submission concludes: ‘The applicant’s assessment of landscape impacts has significant omissions and inaccuracies. Given the close proximity of the National Park, the site selection process must explain how landscape impacts upon it were taken into account.’
FPD calls on West Coast Energy to revise the landscape analysis in its planning application, which plays down the harmful effects on the Peak District. ‘If [it does not], the extent of errors must discount it as a reliable source of evidence,’ the group says.
According to FPD, the application would also breach the new East Midlands Regional Plan, which warns that renewable energy will be difficult to accommodate close to the Peak District National Park. The Julie Martin report also points out that guidance, about to be published by the Peak District National Park Authority, is expected to rate the Matlock Moor site as unsuitable for the type of development proposed.
Other points of note in Julie Martin Associates’ report include:
- the landscape surrounding the development site is sensitive to energy developments in many respects: overall it is considered to be of at least high to medium sensitivity and to have little or no capacity for the type and scale of wind energy development proposed
- there is little doubt that the landscape would become dominated by the wind farm due to the considerable height of the turbines, which at 126m to blade tip are among the tallest currently proposed in England
- the footpath standoff from Turbine 3 is only 50m, which means the turbine blades, at 46m long would almost oversail the path – a much greater separation than this is generally recommended if people are not to be deterred from using a public footpath
- there would be close range view of the wind farm from a considerable number of properties in the vicinity, including holiday cottages, representing a considerable level of impact not only on residential amenity but also on the general visual amenity of the locality
- the proposed wind farm may be expected to have cumulative impacts, with views of multiple wind farms likely from within the National Park
- the Special Landscape Area designation of land near the site rates it as ‘examples of the finest Derbyshire landscape outside the Peak District National Park’
Regarding West Coast Energy’s Environmental Statement, the report makes a number of critical comments, describing it as lengthy, cumbersome, inaccessible to the lay reader and disaggregated in a way that makes it difficult to appreciate the overall impact of the scheme. There are numerous internal inconsistencies.
The photomontages do not always appear to be representative of the locality chosen. They are not consistent with good practice in that they include a wider field of view (73 degrees) than the human field of view (45-60 degrees) and therefore tend to make the turbines appear smaller that they would in reality.
The report states:
‘Levels of impact significance appear to have been seriously underestimated… Given these serious weaknesses, it is questionable whether the findings of the landscape and visual impact assessment can be relied upon by decision-makers.’
Friends of the Peak District is run by the Campaign to Protect Rural England and represents the CPRE in North East Derbyshire and the Peak District National Park.
Wednesday 8th April 2009 – Press Release
Legal blow for Matlock Moor Wind Farm - Leading barrister blasts application as ‘unreliable and of poor quality’
A leading planning law expert has produced a damning assessment of West Coast Energy’s troubled plans to erect five of the biggest wind turbines in England in the heart of the beautiful Derbyshire Dales.
The legal opinion - by barrister Richard Honey - is one of the main planks of a raft of objections filed by local people against the proposed development, and has been released today by local campaign group, Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal (AMP).
Mr Honey - of leading London barristers’ chambers Francis Taylor Building - is among the best-known experts in wind farm planning law. His opinion concludes:
"I consider the application documents in this case, including the Environmental Statement [ES], to be unreliable and of poor quality."
He adds:
"There are a number of important omissions or failures in relation to compliance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, which mean that, in my opinion, it would be unlawful to grant planning permission based on the ES submitted by the applicant."
Tourism economy hit
Crucially, the opinion says, the application contradicts a number of previous planning appeal decisions, which have judged the effect of wind farms on local tourist businesses to be negative.
Mr Honey says: "The harmful effects of wind turbine developments on tourism have been recognised in appeal decisions in the past… [The development] would have an effect on the prospects for tourist businesses, which in turn could have land use consequences in terms of lost investment and reduced economic activity."
Site selection breaches planning policy
In an extensive critique of the application, he also says there is little material provided by West Coast as to what has been done by way of site selection and how environmental impacts can be minimised by choice of location.
Under the law, wind farm developers must show they have considered all other options so that the adverse impact of wind turbines is minimised.
According to Richard Honey, West Coast's Environmental Statement deals only with commercial and performance matters in describing the selection of the number and scale of turbines, and as such shows no consideration of the relevant policy, known as PPS22.
He goes on:
"There can be little confidence that the site selection and project development exercise has really led to the selection of an appropriate site where environmental and social impacts are minimised. The development does not appear therefore to comply with the relevant requirements of PPS22."
Too much leeway in development
Mr Honey also warns that the proposal does not fix the height of the turbines or their type and seeks 30m latitude in their siting in any direction.
The developer should not be allowed such latitude, Mr Honey says, as "the development as constructed could be materially different in its environmental effect to that set out in the application documentation."
The ES is further "defective" because it does not include the grid connection needed to feed in the power generated. Mr Honey warns that case law says the proposal should not be considered in isolation.
Richard Honey is also critical of West Coast's decision to withhold noise data on grounds of commercial confidentiality: "A failure to provide noise-related data has led to the quashing of planning permission in the past," Mr Honey observes.
Noise and landscape effects underestimated
Again, having regard to the case law, the barrister says West Coast has set the threshold of significant effects on the landscape too high, and West Coast gets the case law, appeal decisions and guidance wrong on the setting of listed buildings and conservation areas.
Meanwhile, the noise limits referred to by West Coast, known as ETSU, permit very substantial increases in actual noise levels: "Even where there is ETSU compliance, it is in my opinion necessary to consider actual noise effects as they will be perceived in the real world."
Mr Honey warns: "There is therefore a failure properly to describe the likely significant effects of the development on the environment in terms of noise."
Application wrong on policy
Mr Honey later says the planning appraisal is flawed in a number of important respects and wrongly states that there is a "presumption in favour of renewable energy schemes".
Planning policy in fact says that wind farms should be accommodated in locations "where environmental impacts can be addressed satisfactorily, and that the environmental and social impacts of wind farms should be minimised through careful consideration of location, scale, design and other measures."
Regional renewables target already met
Mr Honey points out that there is not even any need for a wind farm on Matlock Moor. Regional rather than county renewable targets are to be given most weight, the barrister says. The East Midlands has already installed capacity of 100MW of its 122MW 2010 target, and including those with planning permission, the target has already been met.
"There is no urgent or pressing need to permit further schemes in the East Midlands in order to meet the 2010 target (or indeed the 2020 target)," Mr Honey says.
Impact on the National Park
Turning to the impact on the Peak District, he says: "The effect should not be judged in the context of the National Park as a whole, but how it will affect those parts of it near to the application site.
"It will be possible to see this wind farm along with others from a number of positions in the National Park, giving the impression that the National Park is surrounded by a number of wind farm developments."
The cumulative effect will be important in this case, he adds.
Adverse landscape effect
And on the local landscape impacts, Mr Honey says: "The application site itself is on a ridge, in a highly visible position… especially prominent in the landscape.
"These factors tend against the landscape being able satisfactorily to accommodate a development such as this one.
"The wind farm would appear to me to be out-of-keeping with this complex and varied landscape [which] has a timeless quality.
"A planning decision-maker would conclude that there were substantially adverse landscape effects arising from this development."
The development would also create a "substantial intrusion" into the setting of the Sydnope Estate, the house and its gardens, with its links to the family of Charles Darwin. West Coast is wrong to claim that the effect of the development would be insignificant, he says.
Mr Honey concludes:
"There is a substantial and adverse landscape and visual impact, including on the Peak District National Park and including a number of cumulative effects, and harmful effects on the settings of a number of important historic assets."
Monday 30th March 2009 - Item one
Matlock Moor Issue to be raised in Parliament
North East Derbyshire MP Natascha Engel will be holding an adjournment debate on Tuesday 31st March entitled “Availability of land for renewable energy schemes”. She’s planning to talk about the Matlock Moor wind farm during the debate which will run from 1.30pm to 2pm.
Details on how to attend a debate are here: www.parliament.uk/about/visiting/debates.cfm
Monday 30th March 2009 - Item two - Press Release
Protected bird species face death in wind turbine blades – ornithologists’ warning
The risk that protected bird species could be killed in collisions with turbine blades has emerged today as the latest spanner in the works for the troubled application from West Coast Energy to build England’s tallest wind farm on beautiful Matlock Moor.
Submissions from bird groups from across Derbyshire and the Midlands, in response to the planning application, have raised a raft of concerns about the threat to protected bird life from the turbines.
The species cited as most at threat are Pink-footed Geese, the Nightjar, the Goshawk and Crossbills, among others.
The Midlands Regional Office of the RSPB, the Derbyshire Ornithological Society, the South Peak Raptor Study Group and local bird watchers have all filed the concerns about the applications with the relevant planning authorities.
Local Matlock ornithologist, Roger Carrington, who has 30 years’ experience of bird-watching on Matlock Moor, has written to complain of ‘inadequate data collection and inaccuracies’ in West Coast Energy’s application.
The proposed site is on the Lancashire-to-Norfolk flight path of literally thousands of Pink-footed Geese, he says in a letter of objection, adding: ‘What cannot be over-emphasised is that this is [also] the only nightjar breeding area in Derbyshire.
‘There have been serious and successful efforts in recent years to encourage nightjar by provision of appropriate habitat in their preferred areas by the Forestry Commission and I am most concerned that the proposed wind farm could result in the loss of this nightjar population.’
Meanwhile, the RSPB has made plain that it is the risk of birds colliding with the turbine blades, which is the real threat.
‘The site and its surroundings hold one of the most interesting and diverse breeding assemblages of birds of conservation concern found in a small radius within Derbyshire,’ the RSPB’s Senior Conservation Planner, Colin Wilkinson, states in a letter.
He goes on: ‘It is difficult to rule out the risk of adverse impact on the locally important wildlife of Matlock Moor, especially the nightjars… This population is small and isolated, and nightjars are relatively long-lived, so even a very small daily risk of collision mortality could well add up to a significant threat to the viability of the local population over the lifetime of the development.
‘The loss of nightjars from this site would affect Derbyshire’s contribution to meeting the UK Biodiversity Action Plan target to maintain and increase the range of nightjars, which local planning authorities must have regard to.’
The RSPB’s letter invites the local planning authorities to consider designating Matlock Moor as a County Wildlife Site (CWS), a status already held by two neighbouring areas.
This would require West Coast Energy to prove that there are no alternative sites for a wind farm of equivalent size in Derbyshire, which would avoid all potential for adverse impacts on wildlife assets of County importance.
A further submission by the Derbyshire Ornithological Society complains that West Coast Energy failed to act on official advice from government conservation agency Natural England that it should consult DOS about its plans.
DOS Chair Bryan Barnacle also raises the threat to the Nightjar, and points out that, while Goshawks are often killed illegally in other habitats, they have found a safe haven on Matlock Moor.
Mr Barnacle goes on to point out technical deficiencies in West Coast Energy’s approach to assessing the impact of the turbines on bird life: ‘The ornithological survey would appear less than complete and more work is clearly required. A simple example is that the breeding survey started too late.’
As a result, it failed to pick up Crossbill, Lapwing, Skylark, Meadow Pipit and Short-eared Owl populations. ‘If permission were to be granted, we would fear long-term serious damage to the site and its wildlife,’ Mr Barnacle says, echoing the RSPB’s suggestion that a protective designation be considered for Matlock Moor.
The Chair of the South Peak Raptor Study Group, ME Taylor, warns that several bird of prey species have been left out of the planning application’s assessment, including the Buzzard, Merlin and Peregrine. Two, possibly three Goshawk pairs breed locally, and the Hobby is expected to breed there soon, the Group’s objection says.
‘In view of these facts, and the obvious detrimental effects on both local breeding, and itinerant hunting birds of prey, we must strongly oppose the construction of a wind farm at the proposed site,’ it concludes.
As has been recently reported, the RPSB’s national policy is to raise in-principle objections to wind farms only where populations of national and international importance are threatened.
However, the RPSB’s Colin Wilkinson warns: ‘The fact that we have not objected in principle to this application must not be taken to imply that we “support” this development. Local ornithological groups and the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust may raise their own objections on ornithological grounds and, of course, the local planning authorities will need to have regard to these views.’
Wednesday 25th March 2009 - Press Release
West Coast Energy told to Stop Exaggerating CO2 claims
Red-faced bosses at wind turbine developers West Coast Energy have agreed to stop over-stating how much CO2 would be saved by Matlock Moor Wind Farm, it emerged today.
The embarrassing climb down comes after an Advertising Standards Authority probe into a West Coast leaflet, which said ‘This wind farm could displace CO2 emissions of between 295,650 and 719,415 tonnes’.
Following a complaint by local campaigner, Keith Moor, the ASA ruled: “ We investigated this issue … and found that evidence no longer supported the idea that wind farms are likely to replace coal fired generation and therefore offset CO2 per the higher emissions factor associated with such a form of generation.”
For CO2 savings, the ASA ordered West Coast to base its claims on the National Grid’s average figure for CO2 emissions from all forms of power generation, which would see Matlock Moor Wind Farm save 292,399 tonnes of CO2 over its 25 year life span.
A local campaign group, AMP (Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal), is arguing that, while climate change requires urgent action, Matlock Moor Wind Farm is not the solution, and will cost too much in terms of local tourism jobs and the local environment.
A spokesman said:
“West Coast’s misinformation has been shown up for what it is by this ruling – green spin designed to bounce a well-meaning community into accepting a disfiguring turbine development.
“By overstating the potential CO2 savings by over 200%, West Coast has, deliberately or not, misled the public and politicians about its plans.
“Beneath the ‘greenwash’, West Coast’s planning application rests on claims that seem to crumble under any concerted scrutiny. This ruling from the ASA is a major blow to the turbine proposal.”
Meanwhile, West Coast’s claim to the public that Matlock Moor Wind Farm would meet the ‘annual domestic energy needs of around 7,000 homes’ is also coming under fire. In fact, analysis shows it will only produce 479 watts per home at any one time.
The spokesman said:
“West Coast says it will meet the needs of 7,000 homes, yet these unfortunate households will only have access to 479 watts of power each – enough to run four 100 watt light bulbs and an electric shaver.”
“In the real people, people have cookers, TVs, washing machines and other appliances. Under West Coast’s plans, we can look forward to a ‘no mod cons’ lifestyle.”
Tuesday 17th March 2009
Ashover Parish Council Meeting – Concerns about planning application
Ashover Parish Council are expressing "Concerns about the application regarding it's compliance to planning guidelines". A list of comments will be circulated to North East District Derbyshire and Derbyshire Dales District Council later this week. Most of the points against the application we raised during our presentation and are objecting to as local residents are likely to be included in this list and I will circulate you with this list once it becomes available.
Monday 16th March 2009
Matlock Town Council Meeting – Not conversant with issues
Matlock Town Council discussed their response to the proposed Wind Farm application on Monday 16th March 2009 at their meeting. "In view of the fact that this is such a contentious issue and several of our Councillors had to abstain from the vote as they sit on Derbyshire Dales District Council, they felt that it would not be sufficient to either refuse or approve the application. It was also felt that they were not fully conversant with many of the issues that arose throughout the discussion and consequently were unable to make a decision at this time."
Monday 16th March 2009 - Press Release
Wind turbines march towards Chatsworth Estate as economic and environmental blight spreads
Secret deal uncovered by campaigners
Giant wind turbines are being planned in new areas of prime countryside towards the historic Chatsworth Estate, it has emerged. (See Map)
In a dramatic twist to the controversial planning application for five turbines on Derbyshire Dales' Matlock Moor, campaigners have learned of secret talks between landowners and other developers designed to site an additional windfarm on the road to Chatsworth over Beeley Moor.
The new turbines would be visible from the Peak District National Park, just 500m away, the Chatsworth Estate and would overshadow the significant local tourist businesses at Darwin Forest Country Park and Darwin Lake Holiday Cottages.
A local campaign group, Action Against Matlock Moor Windfarm Proposal, said it would be writing to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire with details of the plans within the next seven days.
A campaign spokesman said:
“It seems we are in the grip of a ‘greenrush’ in which landowners and speculative developers are prepared to target some of England’s most beautiful countryside with plans for disfiguring wind turbines.
“The Matlock Moor planning application is seemingly the thin end of a wedge, which risks making an industrial landscape of the very countryside that attracts tourism and jobs to the area.
“The threat to Chatsworth is especially disturbing, and will cause national concern. This latest news is yet another reason for people who are proud of Derbyshire to oppose the Matlock Moor wind turbine application.”
He added:
“We will be writing with as much detail as we can garner to alert the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire to this alarming development spreading towards their historic estate, which is the strategic engine of our regional tourist economy.
“The plain fact is that this area is known for its natural and historic beauty. Sustainable tourism within England, such as that enjoyed by many thousands coming to this area each year, will be severely undermined if this turbine rash is allowed to take root.
“Holiday-makers who desert this area may well take the easy option and jump on carbon-emitting cheap flights to Europe and forget about the once-unblemished Derbyshire Dales.”
Tuesday 10th March 2009 - Press Release
MPs visit to hear "Wind Farm Concern Story"
Patrick McLoughlin MP for Derbyshire Dales will be visiting the site this Friday, March 13th and we are asking you to support us again in our fight against the turbines.
Supporters of AMP are invited to this meeting and should e-mail the following address: enquiries@nowindfarminmatlock.co.uk to obtain further information regarding timings.
Thank you for attending the Natascha Engel meeting
A big thank you for those of you who were able to turn out to support us on Friday February 27th at Uppertown Social Club when Natascha Engel MP for North East District Derbyshire visited the site and was able to meet 44 local residents. Although there was little time for questions and answers the visit was a huge success with Natascha raising the question regarding the 2,000m buffer zone in the House of Commons last week.
Articles also appeared in the Derbyshire Telegraph and Matlock Mercury, and the Sunday Times featured a full page article entitled "Tilting at Windmills" by Wendy Holden, which posed the question are we throwing caution and common sense to the wind in the rush to meet renewable energy targets? Our web site www.nowindfarminmatlock.co.uk was advertised nationally in this article and the petition signings on the website increased by 25%.
February 2009
Local MPs for Derbyshire West, Patrick McLoughlin and Natascha Engel from North East Derbyshire, will be visiting the wind farm site on Friday February 27th. The time table will allow for the MPs to meet the AMP committee at the site, together with interested supporters. The MPs will then continue on their drive around the site and then host a 20 minute Q and A session.
Supporters of AMP are invited to the meeting and should e-mail the following address: enquiries@nowindfarminmatlock.co.uk to obtain further information.
December 2008
Over the last few weeks we have visited the local community and circulated c.700 information booklets. We have received a lot of feedback and are building up a database of those opposing the proposal. We urge you to read the information on this site and VOTE NO. We have sent a 32 page document requesting answers to our questions to West Coast Energy and local planners.
Show your opposition
West Coast Energy have now submitted their planning application to North East Derbyshire District Council and Derbyshire Dales District council for their wind farm on Matlock Moor.
Part of the planning process allows for the district councils to obtain views from various groups who may be affected by this application. As part of this process the councils will be seeking the views of both Ashover Parish Council and Matlock Town Council.
Please therefore e-mail the following officials ASAP and inform them that YOU are AGAINST the WIND FARM APPLICATION.
Ashover Parish Council
parishclerk@ashover-pc.gov.uk
tel. 01246 863 018
Matlock Town Council
townclerk@matlock.gov.uk
tel. 01629 57488
Derbyshire Dales District Council
planning@derbyshiredales.gov.uk
tel. 01629 761 368
North East Derbyshire District Council
charlotte.stainton@ne-derbyshire.gov.uk
tel. 01246 217 176
If you have any questions please contact us at enquiries@nowindfarminmatlock.co.uk
Please visit the Sign Petition page to show your support for our campaign.
AMP
Action Against Matlock Moor Wind Farm Proposal
