SPAWF

The loss of amenity in an area will have an adverse effect on property values.

House prices obviously vary around the country and one should be cautious about extrapolating from figures in one part of the country to another. However, in a 2004 court case where a seller had failed to disclose to the buyer that a wind farm was about to be built nearby, the judge ruled that the value of the property reduced by 20% by the presence of the wind farm.

Much depends on proximity and visibility. Clearly the prices of nearby houses in sight of the turbines would be affected.

The wider effect is likely to be linked to the extent to which the presence of the turbines changes the character of the landscape. 

Comment from Dr Tony Wright MP Cannock Chase

Resident of Bournville, Birmingham after request for support.

 

Thank you for your letter about the wind farm application for the Bleak House site.

 

My view is that if we are serious about renewable energy, to reduce carbon emissions and tackle global warming, then we have to be serious about wind farms. There is good evidence that we shall need them all over the country in future, and not just off-shore.

 

That does not mean that every individual wind farm application should be supported. They have to be able to pass local environmental tests in terms of noise and intrusion. This is my approach to the Bleak Farm application. Frankly i do not know if it passes these tests, but that is what the planning process is designed to find out. My impression is that the planners are taking this task very seriously, and taking into consideration all the points that residents and others are putting to them. I see my role as to ensure that this happens and not to pronounce on the application in advance of its detailed consideration.

 

I am sorry if this is not the reply you want.

 

Reply from Lisa Pearce Lib Dem Councillor Hednesford 

Dear Mrs Thompson,

Thank you for your e-mail and letter regarding the proposed Wind Farm at the former Bleak House Site. Even though I sympathise with your concerns, I actually strongly support the development of renewable energy resources. I understand that you are worried about the impact on your community, but if we do not start to look now for sustainable environmentally friendly alternatives to burning fossils fuels, then future generations will pay a bigger price than the disadvantages that you are using to oppose this scheme.

I would like to point out that these are my own personal views based on my understanding of scientific facts and probably not that of the District Council as a whole, individual councillors or any particular political party. I can also see why you would want to use the local elections to publicise your campaign, but i hope that this issue does not get used by people standing for election, with them making promises that they know they are unable to keep.

Bleak House may or may not be the most suitable site for a wind farm, but I am sure that experts will look at all the facts and not rush into a decision that could be harmful to people’s health, quality of life or the environment. I am sorry that I can not offer my support to your campaign.

Regards,

Cllr Lisa Pearce

I serve on the planning committee at Cannock and if I wish to vote I cannot make public my views as it predetermines the application and would disqualify me from voting but I do have serious concerns about this application.
Regards, Cllr. Diane Todd

Reply from Councillor Darrell Mawle (Liberal Democrats)

Svetlana,

The government have asked us to consider sustainable, renewable energy especially Wind turbines but does not mention the sizeable and growing opposition to these machines.

Many residents in the Rawnsley Ward boundaries are concerned at the permanent damage done to the landscape when turbines are constructed.  It is hard to see how it is ‘green’ to use massive amounts of energy in their production, and tonnes of concrete when they are installed.  There are further concerns about their inefficiency: most of the time they produce no power, because the wind is either blowing to strongly or not strongly enough.

They generate, on average, only 28% of their capacity.  Savings on gas emissions are minimal, and cancelled out by the need to keep conventional power stations running to provide electricity for the bulk of the time when the turbines can’t generate.

The noise that comes from the turbines will also affect local residents especially those living closest in areas like Prospect Village. Harworth Power has estimated 42 decibels of noise for the village.  The World Health Organisation has said that to get a good nights sleep you need noise to be fewer than 30 decibels.

I expressed my opinions on the turbines two years ago pre my election as a district councillor and felt that the residents gave me a mandate to oppose this application.  I will be speaking in opposition at the Planning Committee when this application gets there and would advise all residents to express their views to the councils Planning Dept as soon as possible.

Councillor Darrell Mawle

Rawnsley Ward