Appeal decision is overdue….again

The decision for the Cotton Farm appeal, which finished in the first week of June, still has not been published. After three delays during the summer the report was promised for ‘Mid November’. We are now in the last week of November and there is still no sign of the decision.

The Cotton Farm Alliance (CFA, consisting of the action group and the parish councils around the Cotton Farm site) has been advised of people trying to buy and sell homes in the area are being frustrated and inconvenienced by the delay.

People trying to sell homes cannot get buyers while many potential buyers do not want to live near a wind farm.

Action Groups to have a policy discussion with HDC

The CFA is aware many other District Councils within the UK are acutely aware of growing problems from windfarm developments being sited too close to homes and places of work. These problems could end up in huge and very expensive planning and appeal legal costs and costs from defending litigation claims.

Currently action groups from other windfarm planning applications in the HDC area have joined to have talks with Huntingdon District Council to introduce a minimum distance between turbines and dwellings. Currently all parties are aware there is very limited protection given under local planning regulations and this should be rectified as soon as possible. A regulatory mechanism is available for immediate local legislation. This has to be looked at urgently especially as many areas in the UK, and Huntingdonshire particularly, are being swamped with windfarm and wind turbine applications.

To help HDC with this process the windfarm action groups have produced a discussion document based on our very considerable recent experience and research. This document, to be presented to the Council very shortly, not only justifies minimum distances but allows compliance with national regulations in protecting the environment and people. This is particularly relevant under the changes heralded by the new Coalition Government and regulation changes to be announced shortly. These changes are part of the continuing process of allowing local people to make local decisions on planning matters. In pursuant of this process action group representatives are to attend a meeting being be held shortly with HDC officers and councillors with the Leader of the council, Mr Ian Bates, in the chair.

Bev Gray

CFA chair.

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