Examples of Objection Letters from another Action Group http://www.soul-online.co.uk/object.html
Letter 1: (Main point is Visual Amenity) Development Services Manager Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Council Offices Wallace Green Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1ED Your Address Date Dear Sir/Madam, Barmoor Wind Farm Development Proposal Application No 06B0148
I have studied with interest the plans for the proposed wind turbines on the high ridge of land between Brackenside and Barmoor South Moor. I have an interest in this area because I am a nearby resident, and I follow closely any proposed developments in the rural countryside. I am also considering my own small bed and breakfast business and possible extension to my house. Almost all the developments in the area that I have been aware of have had to address some form of “visual amenity” issue and these are usually well considered by developers and planners alike. The planning department in Berwick-upon-Tweed is well known for applying meticulous detail to issues of visual amenity, and it is my belief that in this part of the countryside the results speak for themselves. We enjoy a particularly pleasing rural environment and the Lowick, Bowsden and Ford area is an excellent example. Screening of some developments with tree planting is often a requirement, and in most cases is a simple and successful technique. However, when it comes to considering visual amenity in the case of the nine 360 ft wind turbines near Barmoor, no amount of tree planting or landscaping could possibly mitigate the massive visual effect that these structures will have in the local landscape. Likewise the planners will not be able to set any conditions on the development that will reduce the visual impact. This is of course due to the sheer size of the turbines, which are totally out of proportion to any existing natural feature or development in the area. They would remain prominently visible for many miles in all directions. For this reason alone the turbines should be rejected. Given that there are also no environmental benefits from these turbines, either locally or nationally, there is no justification for approving this planning application. Yours faithfully, (Signed) ********************************************************************************
Letter 2 (Landscape, economy, visual impact) The Planning Officer Berwick Borough Council Berwick on Tweed TD151ED (Date) Dear Sir/Madam, REF: O6B0148 Planning Application by Force 9 for Barmoor Wind Farm I write to object to the above planning application and my reasons are as follows:. 1. Damage to Landscape Character. The rural charm of the North Northumberland landscape is the natural asset which attracts thousands of visitors to our area and therefore must be protected. Indeed the development would compromise the landscape character of the adjacent AONB and National Park. 2.Economic Damage . Employment opportunities in this area are mainly in the Tourism Industry. I and many of my young friends work in this industry and are concerned that such developments will deter visitors from coming to this area. A drop of visitor numbers would be a real threat to local employment and future investment. 3 .Visual Impact The proposed turbines would be visible for miles around and especially from such historic places such as Bamburgh, Flodden, Halidon Hill, Norham, and the special Protection Area of Holy Island one of the most visited places in the county. I urge the Council to protect this precious local rural landscape and reject this application especially when this area could use such renewable resources such as biomass, wave & tidal power, which would not compromise the landscape character. Yours faithfully,
(Your Signature)
Letter 3: (Main point is Noise) Development Services Manager Berwick-upon-Tweed Borough Council Council Offices Wallace Green Berwick-upon-Tweed TD15 1ED Monday 23rd July 2007 Dear Sir, Proposed Wind Farm at Barmoor Application Reference No 06/ B0148
As a resident living close by the proposed development I wish to make an objection on the grounds of noise. 1. Noise A recent report (14th March 2006) from the prestigious French Académie Nationale De Médecine, Paris recommended that any construction of wind turbines of over 2.5MW capacity within 1.5km of homes should be suspended immediately pending further research into the ill-effects of noise on human health. From Section 3 Health complaints reported by certain people living near wind turbines : The noise is the most frequent complaint. It is described as throbbing, alarming, and perpetually surprising because it is irregular in intensity, but also comprises incongruous grating sounds, which attract attention or disturb rest. Occurring unexpectedly during the night, these noises disturb sleep, waking up the subject abruptly as soon as the wind rises” The report deplores the lack of studies on sound near turbines and calls for a minimum acoustic safety distance to be defined. There have been several other reports also outlining the health complaints linked to the stress the noise induces (depression, anxiety, headaches). Surely it would be ill advised to allow a development which research shows may be a health hazard, At the very least it should be suspended pending further research. At present this area has very little background noise and is extremely tranquil and peaceful. Yours faithfully
Letter 4 Planning Office Berwick Borough Council Wallace Green Berwick on Tweed TD15 1ED (YOUR ADDRESS) Dear Sir, Ref: APPLICATION FOR WIND FARM AT BARMOOR Ref O6B0148 We are writing this letter to raise an objection against the proposal to develop a wind farm at Barmoor particularly as we regularly visit the Barmoor Castle Caravan Park and other local tourist attractions in North Northumberland. Our objection is based on several issues. 1. Visual Impact Firstly, the proposed creation of wind farms in North Northumberland would have a dreadful impact on the visual amenity.We choose to visit the area to get away from industrialisation and enjoy the delightful vast tracts of unspoilt countryside.Indeed these turbines will intrude on the view from the following places: Flodden Field Norham Halidon Hill Holy Island Bamburgh The Farne Islands The Heritage Coast Line area Yeavering Bell Cheviot
The only structure the area has of a similar height is Chatton Mast and that is seen from miles around.There are no buildings of this magnitude in the North East of England.The turbines would also have large blades, which will not rotate together and therefore will be very intrusive to the eye when they rotate. 2.Amenity Value A further impact will be caused by the closure of public footpaths & bridal ways. This will exclude the public from enjoying the natural beauty of the North Northumberland. 3.Impact on the Environment Each of these turbines will require a concrete foundation each in the region of1000 tonnes, together with tracks leading around the site.These would causeirreparable damage to the local eco-system.Surely of particular concern would be the effect on the near by peat based grass, and peat bogs which grow to a depth of 300mm/1000 years.If these peat based areas are destroyed, you destroy breeding areas for Grouse, Pheasant, Partridge, Moorhens and would affect migrating wildlife too.The Red Kites which were released in the Derwent Valley also visit the area and since these birds are unable to see the rotating turbine blades, they could be killed or injured. 4.Noise Another issue is that in other countries, such as Holland, the noise generated by this type of turbine is very intrusive to anyone living nearby.The developers in Britain state that the noise from these turbines will not be heard above other background noise.However, unlike where we live in Durham, there is generally no background noise in this area of North Northumberland.This is why we love to visit and enjoy the tranquil surroundings. 5. Safety Our final concern is that aircraft often use this area to practice low flying manoeuvres and there is a significant risk that an aircraft could make contact with one of these turbines and could result in a dreadful accident. We hope you will take into account the above points when you are making your decision on this planning application. Yours faithfully,
(Signed)
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Letter 5 (Landscape Character and Amenity) The Planning Officer Berwick Borough Council Wallace Green Berwick on Tweed TD15 1ED 08/03/2006 REF: O6B0148 Planning Application by Force 9 for Barmoor Wind Farm Dear Sir, I wish to make an initial objection to the above planning application on the following grounds: Landscape Character and Capacity The landscape here is very special, Northumberland being known (as used in the tourist brochures as well as Trevelyan’s original work), as the “Land Of Far Horizons”. The character of the landscape is one of open vistas stretching for miles. The turbines at Soutra, apart from being half the size, don’t affect the landscape nearly so much because the horizons are short. These turbines are so huge, they will fragment the landscape, and cause a substantial change in character. Amenity We have enjoyed living here for many years, appreciating the real beauty of the area by walking in the countryside around Barmoor, cycling with the grandchildren to Routin Lynn for a picnic, taking the dog for a walk from Ford Moss across to Goats Crag and truly feeling absolute joy for the luck of living in this amazing place. Till now, that is.. The visual impact of this development will seriously affect our enjoyment of the area. Having looked forward for years to having more time to spend doing those things we love, now that we are approaching retirement age we feel we are in danger of being cheated of our last few years of pleasure in the countryside. Only be up for 25 years? Probably be dead by then. Yours faithfully,
Letter 6 Main point: LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND CAPACITY (CAPACITY means CAPACITY of the landscape to absorb the proposed development.)
Planning Officer Berwick Borough Council Wallace Green Berwick on Tweed TD15 1ED Address Date Dear Sir, Proposed Wind Farm at Barmoor Application Reference No 06B0148 (Copy, Cut and Paste as required :) As a private resident in professional ……..in frequent visitor to.. property owner close to.. regular walker in.. ornithologist who visits.. admirer of .. operator of ………. employee of a tourism business next to.. the area for ….. years, I wish to make an objection to the proposed wind farm development at Barmoor, on the grounds of “landscape character and capacity”. North Northumberland boasts some of the finest rural landscape in Great Britain , and the area round Barmoor is well known to me. The main characteristics for which this landscape is valued are its gently undulating hills, its skylines, its patchwork of mixed farmland and woodland, and its scattered rural settlements of small villages and farmsteads intimately mixed among natural and managed environmental features. This landscape has absorbed several forms of development in past centuries and decades:agricultural, residential and commercial, and several of these will have been controversial to residents and others at the time of development. However those that have been approved have generally been easily and readily absorbed into the landscape, and many have enhanced it. However, the nine wind turbines that are proposed to be erected near Barmoor at 360ft high are completely inappropriate and wholly out of keeping with this type of landscape on the grounds of their sheer size alone. They would dominate a landscape that is viewed and admired from many directions, including from the coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the National Park in the Cheviot Hills. There are no structures of this size or type in North Northumberland, and they would simply not be able to be absorbed by the surrounding landscape. With evidence also now widely available to show that such wind turbines do not even contribute to fossil fuel saving or benefit the wider economy, I request that the application be rejected and considered no further. Yours faithfully, (Signed)