Since BT announced their plans last year to erect six wind turbines at Leys Farm Clare, Clare Town Council has been keen to hear from BT, campaign groups, experts, and the local community to establish the facts about the proposals as well to find out local feeling.

Over the summer, Town Councillors attended the BT and MP-led public meetings and accepted an offer from BT of a separate meeting where they were able to spend more time answering Councillors’ specific questions. In July 2010, Clare Town Council placed an objection to the planning authority against the meteorological mast that BT wished to install on the planning grounds that the mast may cause damage to the landscape.

Recent action

More recently we have been approached by STOC, one of the action groups set up against the wind turbine proposals, and have engaged with them to hear their views and information they have gathered. In response to the approach by STOC and the strong public opinion that has started to arrive in writing to the Town Council, the Town Council has been carrying out its own research into the issues surrounding wind turbines.

As part of this research the Council requested an update from BT on their project and has been informed that BT are planning to reduce the number of turbines from six to three or four. They also informed us that they are continuing to research the viability of the site and still intend to submit a planning application to St Edmundsbury Planning department later this year. Before they do that, they will be holding a public meeting, probably in March.

Clare Town Council’s current view

In our last Town Council meeting, held on February 17^th, Councillors chose to discuss in general terms their stance towards wind turbines and by majority Councillors agreed that they were not in favour of commercial or large scale wind turbines in the proximity of Clare. The Town Council will debate the specific application for the Leys Farm site once St Edmundsbury has received the application and have asked us to comment on it.

Your views wanted

Before this planning application is received, Clare Town Council would like to invite all Townioners and local groups to let the Town Council know how they feel about the BT proposals. As part of this campaign, the next 'Town News', due out shortly, will invite local people to write to or email the Town Council letting us know if you are for, against, undecided or disinterested in the proposal.

You can register your view now in one of the following ways:

Email our dedicated email address at: clarewindfarmopinion@hotmail.co.uk

or write to The Town Clerk, The Old School Community Centre, Callis Street, Clare, CO10 8PX. Please include your name and address so we can identify you as a Clare Townioner.

Story By: Parish Clerk

Email Link: clarewindfarmopinion@hotmail.co.uk

Date : 21-02-2011