Turbine protest group is unhappy with claims
Derby Evening Telegraph - Derby,England,UK
The Protect Carsington and Hopton Action Group made its comments yesterday, during a public inquiry at Matlock Town Hall into the proposal for turbines at ...
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Wind farm debate heats up
Derbyshire Times - Chesterfield,England,UK
Angela Walsh looks at both side of the argument being put forward at the inquiry into controversial plans for 100m turbines at Carsington Pastures. ...
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Peak District wind farm appeal in second week
Bakewell Today - UK
Jeffrey Stevenson spoke on behalf of Carsington Wind Energy on Tuesday as part of the company's appeal to build a wind farm on Carsington Pastures. ...
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"Well, we're half way through the Inquiry. Here's some highlights from last week:

·         Planning Inspector is Robin Brooks, who is hearing views from all parties

·         Lawyer for the friendlies is Anthony Crean QC  http://www.no5.com/members/anthony-crean-qc

·         Lawyer for West Coast Energy is Jeremy Pike  http://www.ftb.eu.com/lc_cms/page_view.asp?ID=616

·         DDDC's objection is on 5 fronts:

·                         Impact on the character and appearance of the landscape including the Peak District National Park

·                         Impact on the setting of Carsington, Hopton and Brassington

·                         Effects on the enjoyment of visitors and their contribution to tourism

·                         Consideration of alternative sites - investigating whether this process has been pursued

·                         Contribution to regional and national targets

·         Last week saw DDDC's witnesses Stuart Mills (Senior Planner for the Peak District National Park) and Jon Bradbury (Planning Case Officer) explaining about the impacts on landscape, conservation areas and tourism. Alternative sites and targets were also discussed

·         WCE's main witness last week was Dr Mackenzie, a noise expert who has done the noise survey work for WCE on Carsington Pasture

·         Adam and Neil presented the Parish Council's objection very well last week

·                         Impact on footpaths and bridleways

·                         Impact on the tranquil landscape and character

·                         Impact on historical setting

·                         Landscape character impact (ref limestone plateau)

·                         Turbine visibility from residences

·                         Noise

·                         Alternative siting

·         Also last week, four 'third-parties' were allowed to present:

·                         The Action Group (Jan, Craig, Ruth, Don, Mel and Steve)

·                         Carsington Bird Club

·                         Prof Per Bullough from Sheffield University talking about exaggerated CO2 savings claims by WCE

·                         Bill Metcalf

Please come along this week - even if just for a morning/ afternoon or a few hours. If you attend, you have to sign an attendance sheet and the more names we have on the sheets the better. The higher the number of people who come along to the Inquiry, the more the Planning Inspector will get the impression that this is really important to us.  

Media coverage was particularly good last week, with a number of TV and radio interviews. We'll hope to get some more this week too.

Protect Carsington and Hopton Action Group "

Wednesday 2nd July
Day two of the hearing.

 

Janice Southway of the Protect Carsington and Hopton Action Group, reports that she was interviewed by BBC TV today.
The Video link can be found below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7484427.stm

 

 

Other reports can be found below:

http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/Appeal-hears-of-wind-farm.4238504.jp

 

http://www.thisisderbyshire.co.uk/news/335ft-wind-turbines-intimidate-walkers-inquiry-told/article-202428-detail/article.html

 

http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/ashbournenewstelegraph/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=323713

 

 

 

Tuesday 1st July,
Day One of the hearing in Matlock
Ross Fletcher of BBC Radio Derby interviewed Craig Southway ( a Carsington resident) today soon after the hearing had finished.
Craig described the very professional way in which their case had been presented, and paid tribute to the 1,700 people who have put their weight behind the protest. Ross Fletcher hosts a 2 hour news programme on BBC Radio Derby and if you missed the interview at 5pm you may listen again at their website. Simply use the link to the BBC Derby website hereclick 'listen again'. and follow the trail to Ross Fletcher's news programme. You will find the interview exactly 1hour and 3 minutes into the 2 Hr programme.
Well done Craig.

This is a ''Wordle' which is a bit of fun to make,
yet still gets the message over.

You can 'wordle' with your own message by clicking the above link.

Friday 20th June,
Ever heard of 'National Wind Watch'?
Well they have heard of us!
This is a US organisation, an action group 'Presenting the facts about Industrial Windpower' and very concerned about the impact it might have on the environment.

 

P.S.
'National Wind Watch'? have now listed the Matlock hearing as a 'News Alert' on their web pages and have filled out their page with our SNAP poster.

 

Friday 20th June,
The Evening Telegraph has caught the spirit of the project and have published a fair summary of the situation, after interviewing members of the team in their 'This is Derbyshire' website



 

 

Friday 20th June,
The efforts of our action group has come to the notice of the Industrial Wind Action Group with considerable resources, in the USA. They have given us an element of international publicity and pledged support for our cause.



 

Wednesday 11th June,
If you get a chance to listen this morning, RAM FM on 102.8. is giving top billing in it's news slot to interviews with Carsington windfarm protestors.

Sheep line up to sign petition against Wind Farm

31/5/08

Residents of Carsington and Hopton who are opposed to the proposed Wind Farm development at Carsington Pastures unveiled a banner measuring 10ft by 20ft, adjacent to The Miners Arms pub in Carsington. The objective of the banner is to raise people’s awareness of the forthcoming Public Inquiry and encourage them to object. Even the sheep seemed interested!

A BBC East Midlands journalist filmed the placing of the banner and interviewed some of the team for East Midlands News.

 

BBC Radio Derby Interview

30/5/08

Janice Southway of the ‘Protect Carsington and Hopton Action Group’ was interviewed today by BBC Radio Derby for a news feature to be broadcast over the weekend.

 

Air views on Turbine Plan

Matlock Mercury, 22^nd May 2008

West Derbyshire MP, Patrick McLoughlin is calling for wide consultation over wind turbine plans for Carsington. Mr McLoughlin is urging residents to put forward their views about proposals to erect four turbines at Carsington Pastures, he is also calling on district councillors to ensure that public involvement is well publicised after local residents complained previous consultations were not widely advertised. “

 

Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP visits village action group

17/5/08

Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP visited the St Mary’s Carsington Flower Festival on Saturday 17^th May and spent time with the ‘Protect Carsington and Hopton’ action group to offer his support to their objection.

 

Residents of Carsington and Hopton lobby for support in objection to Wind Farm

17/5/08

A group of residents from Carsington and Hopton who are opposed to the potential Wind Farm development have been manning an information stand in the village on the circular route around Carsington Reservoir for the past few weekends. They have been approaching people walking or cycling around the reservoir to explain about the potential development and ask for their support to object to the proposals. To date, over 90% of those approached have signed a petition and letter of objection to the Planning Inspector. If you applied the results from this sample to the million visitors who come to the area every year, it means that over 900,000 people will object to the development – equivalent to the population of Birmingham!

 

Protect Carsington and Hopton action group set up window display in Wirksworth

17/5/08

A group of residents from Carsington and Hopton who are opposed to the potential Wind Farm development have set up a window display opposite Ken’s grocery store in Wirksworth. The window display will be in place until after the Public Inquiry in July. The group are trying to raise awareness amongst local villages and towns about the forthcoming Public Inquiry as many locals are unaware that it is due to take place.

 

Wind Farm Fears are Blown Away

Carol Frost, Ashbourne News Telegraph, July 2007 reporting on the rejection of the first planning application

“The first ever attempt to construct a wind farm in Derbyshire has been turned down. The site at Carsington Pastures, Manystones Lane, Carsington, was rejected at a special meeting on Tuesday last week by the southern area planning committee of the Derbyshire Dales Council. Conservative Council Leader and ward member Lewis Rose proposed the application of Wind Energy Limited be refused and this was seconded by Liberal Democrat Leader Davie Fearn and agreed unanimously. Thos opposed to the plan stressed that they were not against Wind Farms, renewable energy and attempts to reduce the carbon footprint, but this was not the right site.”