Norwich Greens furious at undemocratic decision to block Wind farm
22 August 2006
Greens furious at undemocratic decision to block Wind farm
Due to a quirk in the Local Government Act (2000), a single Conservative councillor has been able to lodge a strategic planning objection by Norfolk County Council to a Wind farm development ofcrucial national significance.
On Friday August 18th, the Norfolk County Council Planning and Highways Delegation Committee and Panel discussed the proposed Sheringham Shoal Wind farm on the North Norfolk coast. Under the Local Government Act (2000), a single Councillor, Councillor Adrian Gunson (chair), was able lodge a Strategic Planning objection to the wind farm on behalf of the Council, despite 3 of the 5 Councillors on the Panel arguing for making no such objection.
County Green Councillor Andrew Boswell who spoke at the meeting in favour of the wind farm development says "The decision has no democratic meaning, as it was made against the recommendation of the Council officers and against the views of the majority of the Panel members. It is deplorable that this committee's configuration, underthe LGA Act 2000, allows just one councillor to make this decision on behalf of the entire County Council.
"The conservative party claim the environment is at the heart of their recent re-branding, but time and time again their actions show this not to be true. Wind farms could play a vital role in the UK's renewable energy future - the DTI forecasts that by 2010 offshore wind farms could power 1 in 6 UK homes- but not if there is continued Conservative opposition. (1)
Councillor Boswell continued "This wind farm development is of crucial importance to our national objectives of meeting the government's target for renewables of 20% by 2020, as it wouldprovide about half of Norfolk's domestic electricity, about 1% of the UK total from carbon free sources. The wind farm would be 17-23km from the coast, a distance only rarely visible - it is ludicrous to argue that this can damage the environment of our beautiful Norfolk coastline."
ENDS
Planning consultation document by Norfolk County Council officers: www.norfolk.gov.uk committee_report/planhigh180806item3pdf.pdf.
(1) www.bwea.com
