The application for the Airfield Farm wind factory by Dutch Energy giant Nuon was resoundingly rejected by the Bedford Borough Council last night.

At a packed planning meeting in Bedford’s Harpur Suite – there was standing room only for objectors - the mood of those opposing the industrial scheme was resolute. Their objection to the nine proposed turbines, each 125 metres high was that they would tower over the beautiful Ouse Valley and historic houses, changing the very nature of the landscape.

After almost two years of careful, in depth professional consultation and rigorous application of Government planning guidelines, it seemed that Bedford’s Planning Officers held the same view. They repeated that the factory would cause significant harm to the landscape, have an unacceptable impact on residents, and would reduce the enjoyment of the countryside for walkers and horse riders.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee read out a letter to councillors from local MpAlistair Burt. Mr Burt had consulted widely with his constituents on the application and shared their view that the proposed wind factory was inappropriately sited. However, he said that this was “not a rejection by constituents of renewable energy, nor of the problems associated with global warming. It is a recognition that in dealing with this issue, the schemes must be the right ones for the right location.”

The democratically elected parish councils, representing over 120,000 people, also submitted objections to the wind factory proposals.

THE PLANNING COMMITTEE REJECTED THE PROPOSAL BY 11 VOTES TO ONE WITH ONE ABSTENTION.

A spokesman for CLOWD when he said this was a common sense decision that put people before profit. “The short term pound note gain of a huge corporation should not be allowed to ruin our countryside and change the lives of residents and visitors” he said.

CLOWD hope similar rejections will be dealt to the wind factory schemes at Bozeat, Emberton and Chelveston. CLOWD is an advocate of renewable energy but considers low wind-speed inland Britain is not the place for industrial giants.

“I am concerned that we are being swept along on a fashionable urge to save the environment, and I do not believe that this scheme would add a jot or a kilowatt to our power.” - Coun Nicky Attenborough (Con, Kempston East)

Report to Planning Committee

Letter from Alistair Burt Mp

Bedford Today