Partnership for Renewables issued a press release yesterday about their proposals to build two wind turbines on land to the South West of Ipswich:
Partnerships for Renewables (PfR) has been working with Ipswich Borough Council to investigate the wind energy potential of Council land at Thorington Barn, by the A14 near Belstead, as part of the Council’s strategy to protect and improve the environment and reduce the effects of climate change. PfR is delighted to announce the design for the proposal at the Thorington Barn site and work will now begin on the Environmental Impact Assessment.
PfR’s initial desk-based assessment of the Thorington Barn site in 2009 indicated that the site could host up to three commercial-scale wind turbines. However, further investigation into the technical constraints, together with feedback received from local residents, suggested that a two turbine layout is better suited for the site, as announced in November 2011.
The two-turbine project could generate approximately 10.9 GWh of renewable energy each year, equivalent to the electricity needs of around 2,400 homes, and displace over 4700 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year compared to conventional generation sources. 2,3,4
The results from the many thorough environmental and technical surveys have been analysed and a design of two turbines has now been finalised. The development was originally just on Ipswich Council land but as the environmental studies were assessed it became apparent that putting one turbine on adjacent private land could lead to a better design and this two turbine alternative has now been concluded. The site now consists of Council-owned land located south of Ipswich and the A14, near Belstead, and neighbouring private land.
PfR will be continuing its consultation programme by making its plans available for people to see at a series of community consultation events in both Belstead and Pinewood. At the community events plans of the final design will be available along with a number of photomontages taken from local viewpoints. The project team will also be on hand to discuss the project and any queries people may have. The consultation events will be held:
Monday 28th January 1-7pm, Belstead Brook Hotel, Belstead Road, Ipswich, IP2 9HB
Tuesday 29th January 1-7pm Belstead Village Hall, Grove Hill, Belstead, Ipswich, IP8 3LP
We have noted the concerns of local residents and will continue to ensure that these are taken into account to limit the effects on the community. For example, shadow flicker concerns can be comprehensively addressed by turning off turbines at particular times to prevent it from occurring and PfR is committed to ensuring that this is not a problem for local residents. We have been undertaking a very thorough set of environmental studies and would like to assure people that the results will be carefully considered in our proposal.
The next stage is to complete an Environmental Impact Assessment and prepare an Environmental Statement to support the planning application. This will look in great detail at any potential effects of the development such as noise, visual effects, shadow flicker and any potential impacts on habitats and wildlife, and will put forward any mitigating measures to further reduce any potential effects. The planning application and accompanying Environmental Statement will be assessed in detail by the planning department when an application is made to Babergh District Council. All things being well a planning application may be made in Spring 2013 and at that time further public exhibitions will be held to allow people to view the planning application and associated plans.
A market-leading community benefit package will be provided alongside any future development. This will consist of a community fund, which will receive an annual payment at the rate of £2,500 per installed megawatt. If two 2.5MW turbines are constructed at the Thorington Barn site, the fund would receive £12,500 on an annual basis for the operational life of the project (20-25 years). The fund will be administered by representatives of the local community, to be spent on local projects. A separate consultation on the proposed community benefit fund will take place later on in the development process but we are always pleased to hear people’s ideas on how this fund could be used.
The location of the Partnership for Renewables Turbines
Last night the Chairman of the South West Area Committee, an Ipswich Borough Council Committee, outlined the way Ipswich Borough Council will respond to a planning application by PfR, which will be determined by Babergh District Council because the site falls just over the council boundary.
Cllr Peter Gardiner, an Ipswich Borough Councillor who also sits on Suffolk County Council, told the meeting that, if the application is made to Babergh District Council by the time the South West Area Committee next meets, on 28th February, that meeting will be used to gather representations from residents of South West Ipswich, especially Stoke Park and Sprites wards, so that they can be fed into the application process.
He also underlined that Ipswich Borough Council, whilst not the planning authority that will determine the application, will be consulted by Babergh District Council. This will mean that the planning & development control committee at IBC will consider the Borough Council’s response and residents of Ipswich can expect their local councillors to represent their views to the committee.
Cllr Nadia Cenci told Ipswich Spy that she intends to continue representing the views of the hundreds of people who have contacted her expressing concern about the proposals, and her determined opposition is beginning to get results for her constituents – other councillors in South West Ipswich are now having to respond to the fact that she has such a clear position, with Glen Chisholm confirming that he will represent the views of any constituents who contact him, and Cllr Roger Fern promising residents that he will ensure their views are taken into consideration. Without the pressure from Cllr Cenci it is unlikely that there would be any deviation from the Labour line, which still seems to remain “the previous administration left us this contract and we couldn’t get out of it if we wanted to”.
Cllr Barry Studd has contacted us to say that he would be willing to represent the views of the residents of Stoke Park and that any resident who wished to should contact him by email.
Peter Evans, the Chairman of Stop Ipswich Turbines, challenged the Borough Council to respond to a series of technical and legal questions that he had submitted to the Chief Executive, questions that he is concerned the Borough Council are ignoring because the answers may be devestating to the project.
One very serious point appears to be the fact that a term of the contract appears to require the Borough Council to act illegally, potentially negating the contract in its entirety. The contract states that the Borough Council may not do anything that is likely to prevent planning permission being granted by Babergh District Council. This could include responding to the consultation in a negative way, which amounts to fettering the discretion of the planning and development committee. Fettering discretion is grounds for a judicial review, and the inclusion of this clause could well have committed the council to an illegal act.
Officers and councillors committed to seeking a response from the council’s Chief Executive to the questions that Mr Evans had raised.
Filed under: Ipswich Borough Council Tagged: | Barry Studd, Glen Chisholm, Nadia Cenci, Partnership for Renewables, Peter Evans, Peter Gardiner, Roger Fern, South West Area Committee
Reblogged this on A Riverside View.
I think its fair to say that all councillors in Stoke Park and Sprites would be willing to represent the views of the residents.Also members of the IBC Planning Committee make their own minds up regarding planning applications there is NO party line on anything and they often reject the officers recommendations.If any resident of Stoke Park wish to contact me or the other councillors please do so via email.
You took you’re time didn’t you?
How cowardly Ipswich’s elected representatives are! Tory and LibDem councillors ordered these turbines to be built when they were in control. Now many of them are deploring the idea. Labour councillors, now in charge at the borough, are afraid to back them. It’s about time they spoke up in favour of them and also tried to push for community investment in the project. Partnership for Renewables says it is open to this. We at the Green Party have talked to PfR about this. Has any councillor at Ipswich bothered to do the same?
Robert Lindsay
Babergh Green Party
As on shore Wind Turbines are environmentally hostile, you are backing the destruction of the environment to save it.
I suppose you would prefer we import our electricity from France, or that we built some “clean coal” fossil fuel power stations Kevin. Honestly you Tories have your heads in the clouds. Is it nice in laa laa land? If we don’t do something about the energy gap soon, we’ll be having brown-outs on a regular basis.
Nicola, before you post your rubbish you should learn the facts. The reason we are importing our electricity from France is because wind turbines are inefficient. What we need is more clean nuclear power stations. It is you water melons who have your heads in the clouds. On shore wind turbines are only 30% efficient but you prefer to be in laa laa land. If we continue with unsustainable renewables that are so inefficient the companies would go bankrupt without government subsidies, we’ll be having black-outs on a regular basis. Atoms for Energy!
Reading between the lines, it was the Lib Dem councillors who ordered them built and the Tories didn’t have the foresight to see they might cause political issues in later years. Not sure how much the Tories ever really wanted them – Cllr Cenci raised concerns at the time, it’s noted in the minutes.
Your point about the Labour councillors who won’t say whether they back them or not is one widely held in SW Ipswich. It is all very well saying the Tories and Lib Dems signed the contract, but Labour welcomed them at the time. Why won’t they reflect that now?
In answer to comments made by ariversideview, i have always said that i will be willing to represent the views of the residents in Stoke Park.as for comments by IS/BR i have said before i will make my own mind up for or against the Turbines when i see the facts in black and white,i never assume anything by simple hearsay. .
Cllr Studd you are one of 32 Labour councillors, including 15 in south west Ipswich. I simply do not believe that none of these councillors have any views for or against the turbines, in fact or principle. The Liberal Democrats were able to make comment. The Tories were able to make comment. The deafening silence from the Labour group about whether or not members agree with the principle of turbines leaves many to draw their own conclusions. If you do not want Labour councillors to continue to be described as cowardly for their silence, persuade them to come up with a better line than “it was the Tories who signed the contract.”
Labour Councillors who disagree are silent because they dare not face the wrath of the likes of Water Melon, Sandy Martin.
Proper debate then we have an Ipswich Tory activist and occasional candidate calling people names!
Well why else would they be silent Alasdair?
Nadia I have said on a number of occasions that I believe we should build the turbines. Other than you, I have not heard one other Tory comment other than you.
We must also remember that those from planning should keep their opinions to themselves
Yeah, Gavin Maclure and I have been completely silent on the matter haven’t we?
And you’re Cllrs for which ward? Total silence from all Tories other than Cllr Cenci and that includes Cllr West who represents SW Ipswich
It isn’t true to say that there has been total silence from all Tories other than Cllr Cenci, Alasdair, as you very well know. Cllr Carnall, when Group Leader, made it perfectly clear that the group backed Cllr Cenci’s stance. Cllr West, who is the relevant County Councillor, has been speaking to local residents and has undertaken to represent their views if necessary. However, much like Cllr Gardiner, he no doubt feels it is for Borough councillors to speak on the issue.
But more to the point Alasdair, when will your portfolio holder start speaking up for the plans in public? Is the Labour administration fully behind the plans, as they were in opposition when the contract was signed? This total silence in the face of opposition smacks of cowardice. If it was something Labour fully believed in, wouldn’t we have Sandy Martin and David Ellesmere fighting the cause and arguing the case on its merits? Instead David Ellesmere sat silent and brooding at the SW Area Committee, not even promising to find out why SIT’s letter to Russell Williams had gone unanswered for 8 weeks!
Refusing to back a stance you believe in because you hope not to lose votes you might need in 2015 is total cowardice. Is that really a personality trait we want in the leader of the council? Gutlessness?
Tory group leader John Carnall told Ipswich Spy that “evidence from Kessingland has cast doubt on the information we were given when the “lease” was agreed. Turbines built close to homes certainly cause greater problems with flicker and noise than we were led to believe. The general view therefore is that we would prefer to see wind farms built off shore. We cannot defend turbines being built close to local housing.
“There is clearly strong local opposition to the Thorington wind turbines. Residents wishes must be given a high priority and in the circumstances we would not consider it unreasonable if PfR decided to back off and dropped the scheme.”
From our Preview to the last Full Council meeting.
And South West Ipswich Labour Councillors have said?
I now realise that NC was not Nadia!
Do you also realise that following the Localism Act, the line that planning councillors cannot make public pronouncements is total rubbish? Or do you not bother listening at training sessions?
I do attend the training but best still to have an open mind and local Cllrs on planning can represent residents views that may not even agree with
After your remark on training maybe you should do an article on attendance at meetings or training
So far at East Housing we have not had one opposition Cllr attend any of the three meetings and one of the Tory leadership candidates failed to attend a meeting this week
I rather think the point is, Cllr Ross, that far too many councillors still hide behind the “predetermination” argument which is no longer a planning issue. Just this week Cllr Gardiner used it at the SW Area Committee to argue that he couldn’t speak out either way on the issue of turbines. Ironically his argument that, as Chair of the committee, he wants to remain publicly neutral is a far better argument and happens not to be based on out of date law!
When we investigated the attendance at meetings such as the East Area Housing Panel, we were reminded by a Borough Council spokesman that these were not official committee meetings of the council. Councillors of all parties should, however, be aware that we have a watching brief on this and that we have done our research into which councillors bother to attend and which don’t.
Prehaps i could suggest that ALL S/WEST councillors meet together with Cllr Sandy Martin and Cllr David Ellesmere to discuss this issue after all we are all elected to serve the residents and as this is such a hot topic it maybe a good idea ,.
What is your position on the wind turbine development Barry?
Translation: The two-turbine project could generate approximately 10.9 GWh of renewable energy each year if both turbines were running at full capacity.
Do you know how often wind turbines run at full capacity? Not very often.
[...] in the comments on the Ipswich Spy blog here Barry Stud [...]
Neither for or against at the moment as i have said before until i see the facts in black and white then i will decide ,and before anyone suggest i am going along Party lines i make my own decisions .
So just like the other Labour councillors, you’re sitting on the fence?
I may be sitting on the fence as you say ,but i would rather do that until i know the facts about something than just going along and believe the comments you read on places like this and by the same people who seem to write the same crap all the time .
Ipswich councillors are legally free to say what they like about the turbines because it is BABERGH councillors on BABERGH planning committee who will make the decision.
Ipswich Councillors are NOT legally free to say what they like because the council is contractually bound to do nothing that might be reasonably considered likely to prevent planning permission being granted – a clause likely to lead to a judicial review.
Ipswich Councillors on the Planning committee can only make suggestions on the consultation papers when they reach the committee IBC have no say in the actual planning application it will be down to Babergh council.However as it has been said before we can represent any residents views to IBC or Babergh.