Protesters fail to halt plan for Sheepdrove turbine

A WIND turbine is to be built on the Lambourn Downs at Sheepdrove Organic Farm.
The amount of air generated inside and outside the West Berkshire Council chamber on Wednesday evening of last week discussing the controversial item would likely have been enough to power it for several months but the end result was approval.
Protesters had gathered outside the Market Street offices beforehand, angry at a perceived blot on the landscape and a potential threat to horses.
Both worries were dismissed during the debate by the Western Area Planning Committee who voted through the application.
Objector Jane Rowlinson spoke forcefully on behalf of the Friends of Lambourn Downs, which counted many friends and associates of the local racing fraternity amongst its connections.
She said the area was afforded the highest level of protection in regard to the North Wessex downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and to approve the application for the 18 metre high construct would open the door to many other similar developments.
“This turbine would have the effect of disturbing this natural environment, would intrude the skyline and harm the AONB and would have no benefit to the public. It would not be put up without subsidies and is not a viable project.
“It would be an alien structure. The local people don’t want it.”
Speaking on behalf of Evance Wind Turbines, who make the devices, Alexander Nutt said there were many misunderstandings about the turbines which he sought to correct.
“These are not the huge turbines you sometimes see, it is not a big product,” he said.
“We have built these on the banks of the Loch Ness, we have just put some up in Exmoor Park. The turbines are small pieces of equipment, they have no gears and are as quiet as the breeze."
In reference to the point the turbines could scare horses he said that in many other areas of the country animals co-existed happily with the turbines and quickly got used to their presence.
His point was backed up by councillor George Chandler (Con, Downlands) who said it was impossible to predict how a horse would react to anything.
“You just don’t know what they are going to do, you can’t say either way. Some horses are spooked by a crisp packet rustling in a hedge. I think it is a good idea to use nature to make energy, there are a lot of things in Sheepdrove that catch the eye, buildings, telegraph poles, power lines, you don’t notice them.”
Councillors Julian Swift-Hook (Lib Dem, Greenham), and Tony Vickers (Lib Dem, Northcroft) were also vociferous in their support for the application, which was voted through despite the protestations of Anthony Stansfeld (Con, Kintbury) who was entirely against the application, and the West Berkshire Council portfolio holder for the
environment, Hilary Cole (Con, Chieveley), who said it was no secret that wind turbines were not her favourite renewable energy source.