A second challenge has been made to an Essex wind farm proposal this week leading to questions about the effectiveness of UK planning and legal systems.
The Bradwell wind farm proposal submitted by wind energy company npower renewables has been subject to two public inquiries at which planning consent was granted on both occasions.
The UK Planning Inspectorate footed the £100k (US $150) plus bill for the second inquiry due to a spelling mistake in the 1st inquiry decision letter rendering some of the conditions relating to noise control unenforceable. A successful challenge by the anti- wind group eventually lead to the quashing of the 1st planning consent. A second consent was granted earlier this year.
npower’s public inquiry manager Melissa Read told the BBC:
“We are disappointed, but not surprised, that there has been a legal challenge to the Planning Inspector’s decision for a second time….
“We are now reviewing the details of this second challenge but remain confident that Bradwell-on-Sea is a suitable location for a wind farm which, when built, will make a valuable contribution to UK renewable energy targets.”
The local wind energy support group Bradwell for Renewable Energy (BRARE) campaigned for the wind farm. When the wind farm was granted planning consent earlier this year BRARE spokesperson Val Mainwood said “we are delighted …that in spite of two public inquiries, the proposed 10 turbines to the south of the nuclear site have been given the go-ahead.”
The anti wind energy-group was conversely dissapointed about the result and has used part of its £35,000 (US $53,000) fighting fund to challenge the wind farm proposals.
One of the leaders of the anti- group Richard Dewick, also a local councillor, campaigned against the wind farm for noise and tranquility reasons. The Councillor runs a transport and sand/ gravel extraction company which brings relatively high numbers of HGV’s into the local village.
