HO3090 "BLACKMORE VALE UNDER SIEGE"

HO3090 "BLACKMORE VALE UNDER SIEGE" 11/3/03 HARDY FORUM ARCHIVE

From: "Michael" <2727@tampabay.rr.com>

Subject: Blackmore Vale under siege...

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 07:26:12 -0500

If the news about the Puddletown Church was upsetting to the readers of this list, this story about the giant turbines in the Blackmore Vale is just too much to contemplate. Thank goodness Jim Gibson is speaking up for all of us... Click on the link below for the sad news, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=3D/news/2003/11/02/nwind02.xm= l&sShe et=3D/news/2003/11/02/ixhome.html How can we help? Michael

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Date: Mon, 03 Nov 2003 08:46:24 -0500

From: Rosemarie Morgan <rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu>

Subject: Re: Blackmore Vale under siege...

Thank you for this, Michael.

There are petition forms available in Britain to prevent such things happening. The numbers though will be crucial if the petition is to be effective. I'll ask

Jim Gibson to jpg/send one such form to me and I'll post it on TTHA's News Updates for those who wish to put their name to it. If Forum Director, Betty Cortus, doesn't mind, names and addresses can be submitted to the Forum and I'll make a list and attach it to the petition.

Renewable energy may be a good idea but there are plenty of military sites i= n Wessex where wind turbines would add little to the already spoiled landscape (there is even a military base on Egdon Heath). There are also nuclear power stations in the area which could not display much more ugliness than exists = at present if wind turbines were placed alongside. No need to destroy Blackmore Vale for this project.

Let's Go!

Cheers,

Rosemarie

From: Jcphardysoc@aol.com

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 11:02:56 EST

Subject: Re: Blackmore Vale under siege...

Dear Forum Readers

I do not think wind turbines are particularly green anywhere. A vast amount of energy goes into their manufacture and erection - all for a piffling amount of electricity provided there is enough or not too much wind blowing. With little or no wind, no electrcity is generated of course; and in strong gales they have to be shut down for safety reasons. Therefore there still has to be the same conventional power generation capacity i.e. coal-, gas- or oil-fired power stations plus nuclear energy, to meet the base load demand for electricity.

Aesthetically, wind turbines are a disaster and already detract from the wild beauty of the north Cornish coast, parts of the Pennines and Mid Wales - like much of Wessex some of Britain's finest scenic areas. Giant wind turbines tend to dwarf hills and mountains. Their construction is heavily subsidised by the British government which is obsessed with meeting arbitrary 'green' targets (plus a lot of other ridiculous targets). There was a very good editorial article in The Times about two weeks ago by former Editor Simon Jenkins condemning wind farms and their pseudo-green credentials. Whilst I accept that global warming is probably occurring, I have my doubts as to how much this is due to human activity. All the ice ages of prehistory ended with global warming and there were few or no human beings around. Throughout geological time, the earth's climate has been subject to many extreme but natural fluctuations.

I will certainly be happy to sign any petition opposing wind turbines in the Blackmore Vale.

Best wishes

John Pentney

From: "ann WHITLOCK" <ann@whitlock282.freeserve.co.uk>

Subject: Re: Blackmore Vale under siege...

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 17:16:01 -0000

Thanks for the information, Michael. Is there a way of informing us about the organisation of protest which exists, and relevant details from the planning application? My own practical experience over the last three years is to do with anti quarry protest in the Nine Ladies Circle on Stanton Moor (Peak District National Park.) The initial strategy there was to force delays in the planning process, and read all the docs. associated to find loopholes. A high profile in the national press and TV has also helped. The decisions have been put off again. Emotional protest is good but even better is quotation >from documents which may have an influence, and a strongly structured organisation at the helm. This is the worst news for some years. Ann WhitlockContent-Type: image/jpeg;

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From: "K Eldron" <kaffi@onetel.net.uk>

Subject: re: Blackmore Vale

Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2003 22:05:36 -0000

Ann Whitlock wrote: "Is there a way of informing us about the organisation of protest which exists....." One such can be found at http://www.savethevale.org.uk/ This also has links to much informative material - some of which suggest this is going to be a battle that will be fought in other parts of Wessex also - the Winterbornes Kingston and Zelston are apparently other possible sites..... "....and relevant details from the planning application?" A search of the South Somerset District Council site reveals no application received yet - but the "save Our Vale" website makes it clear that the District Council has been strongly committed to wind turbines for some time. Even if it wasn't, the Telegraph article makes it clear that, new legislation permitting (as it almost certainly will), the Government will intervene if councils turn down wind turbines on "subjective" considerations such as preserving attractive landscape. Dark days. Perhaps with his usual perception, Hardy foresaw all this. As he said in his Vale legend: "a Visage seemed to frown >from Heaven at him" or in Cucklington's case, two frowning visages.

K Eldron <mailto:kaffi@onetel.net.uk>kaffi@onetel.net.uk

From: "James Gibson" <james.gibson@ukgateway.net>

Subject: RE: Blackmore Vale

Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2003 21:41:10 -0000

I would like to endorse this message and encourage anyone concerned about this proposal to visit the excellent website at <http://www.savethevale.org.uk/>http://www.savethevale.org.uk/ I have spoken to, and been in correspondence with, members of this group. There has, as yet, been no formal planning application for the two turbines at Cucklington, but it is feared that one is imminent. The proposed structures are more than twice as high as Alfred s Tower at Stourhead there is a new generation of turbines which are much higher than those we currently see in Cornwall.

The advice is that if people do wish to express their views about the wind turbines that individual letters are by far the strongest method. A petition of 200 signatures might count as one objection, whereas there is no question that 200 letters voicing reasoned arguments represent 200 people. It is suggested that letters are sent to local MPs (David Heath davidheath@davidheath.co.uk ),

South Somerset District Council, (Chief Planning Officer, Miss Pauline Tillett <mailto:Pauline.tillett@southsomerset.gov.uk>pauline.tillett@southsomerset.g= ov.u k ) at Wincanton BA9 9AG, or the local or national press (Western Gazette

<mailto:newsdesk@westgaz.co.uk>newsdesk@westgaz.co.uk)

The government in this country is actively encouraging the installation of alternative means of producing electricity, and it is becoming more and more difficult for objections to be upheld.

It is also being proposed by Powergen that wind turbines be installed on Portland Harbour, as reported in the Dorset Echo (www.thisisdorset.net) in an article by Harry Walton on November 5th.

The website for Save the Vale will keep up-to-date with any news, and give much information about the proposals, and e-mails can be sent to <mailto:info@savethevale.org.uk>info@savethevale.org.uk

The Blackmore Vale was, in Hardy s time, and remains now, one of the loveliest parts of Dorset and Somerset, and the view of it from High Stoy Hill (despite the radio mast there) was one of Hardy s favourite views. He said that on a clear day he could see the Bristol Channel from there. Surely there must be a better way forward than to destroy such beauty.

Regards to all,

Helen Gibson

Date: Sat, 08 Nov 2003 11:03:17 -0500

From: Rosemarie Morgan <rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu>

Subject: RE: Blackmore Vale

Greetings All:

Re Installation of Turbines in Wessex:

I have sent a letter of protest (culled from recent Forum messages) to each = of the names & institutions given by James and Helen Gibson in their last communique to the Forum. If anyone would like a copy of my letter please ema= il me privately and it will be forwarded to you. It may make it easier for you = to write in the same vein if you have my letter from which you can cull freely.

With every good wish,

Cordially,

Rosemarie Morgan

09:41 PM 11/6/03 +0000, you wrote:

> I would like to endorse this message and encourage anyone concerned about

> this proposal to visit the excellent website at

=FF <http://www.savethevale.org.uk/>http://www.savethevale.org.uk/

Date: Wed, 12 Nov 2003 09:48:17 -0500

From: Rosemarie Morgan <rosemarie.morgan@yale.edu>

Subject: RE: Blackmore Vale

Greetings-- just to say I have already had a response from Member of Parliament for Somerset, David Heath, so please be encouraged to write.

Thanks,

Rosemarie

At 09:41 PM 11/6/03 +0000, you wrote:

> I would like to endorse this message and encourage anyone concerned about

> this proposal to visit the excellent website at

> <http://www.savethevale.org.uk/>http://www.savethevale.org.uk/ // loca=

> MPs (David Heath

> <mailto:davidheath@davidheath.co.uk>davidheath@davidheath.co.uk ), //Sout=

> Somerset District Council, (Chief Planning Officer, Miss Pauline Tillett

> <mailto:Pauline.tillett@southsomerset.gov.uk>pauline.tillett@southsomerset

> .gov.uk ) at Wincanton BA9 9AG, or the local or national press (Western

=FF Gazette <mailto:newsdesk@westgaz.co.uk>newsdesk@westgaz.co.uk)