VILLAGERS determined to stop a windfarm being built on their doorstep boycotted a public exhibition as part of their latest protest to the plans.
Members of SWAT (Sancton Windfarm Action Team) stayed away from the presentation by Cornwall Light and Power (CLP), which unveiled controversial plans in the summer to build five huge turbines on the outskirts of Sancton.
Opposition to the bluepr
ints mounted after the firm said the price of housing could fall once the turbines were in place.
Some residents say the full impact of the turbines on the village have not been fully explained to them.
Leading the calls for the plans to be scrapped is Stuart Hepworth, who formed SWAT and lives on High Street in the village centre.
The 62-year-old is campaigning for either the plans to be scrapped, or at the very least to have villagers’ council tax reduced to compensate for homes being devalued.
He said: “We advised people to show their disdain over the attitude of Cornwall Light and Power by not turning out at the exhibition.
“We’ve also asked people to sign a petition so that if it does go ahead we get a reduced band in our council tax.
“I would not say we have a good chance of winning this but we’re still pressing ahead and we’re trying to delay the plans using all the ammunition as we can.”
The exhibition, which was the second of its kind, was held last Wednesday and a dozen people dropped by to ask questions about the plans.
Despite this, CLP say it wants to continue updating residents on the progress of the plans.
Bob Morgan, development manager for CLP, said: “We are aware that the local objector group, SWAT, chose to boycott this exhibition.
“The exhibition was an opportunity for local people to view and discuss the application, see the final proposed turbine layout, and ask us any further questions on the scheme or about wind energy more broadly.
“We have been careful to maintain an open dialogue with the local community throughout the consultation process, and we would ask that people continue to contact us with questions following the submission of our planning application.”
The five turbines are planned for land east of the village, approximately a mile from the centre.
They would stand at more than 300ft high and each have three 120ft rotors.
It is estimated that they would produce enough energy to supply 5,700 homes, although the energy would be fed directly into the national grid rather than be used locally.
CLP say the plans will be submitted in the coming days.
The full article contains 444 words and appears in Pocklington Post newspaper.
