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BHATS (Billingborough & Horbling Against TurbineS) is a local action group formed at the end of 2009 in response to the plan by energy giant E.On to site their largest onshore windfarm in close proximity to the Fenland villages of Billingborough, Horbling and Swaton.
Düsseldorf based energy giant E.On are proposing to build 17 industrial scale turbines. Each 3 megawatt turbine towers 125 metres high (410 feet). By comparison the
landmark spire of Billingborough's St. Andrew's Church is only 45 metres high
(150 feet). E.on's turbines will dominate the historic fenscape for tens of
kilometres around. One of the closest turbines will be a few hundred metres
from Brown's Church of England Primary School in Horbling.
By increasing the proposed windfarm scale to over 50MW, E.On
are attempting to completely by-pass the local planning process and take the decision directly to central government. The current government have a stated
objective of increasing the number of windfarms in the UK and heavily subsidise
foreign companies to build them. Without giving taxpayer's money to energy
companies, windfarms would be uneconomical.
BHATS are fighting this proposal on the basis that a wind farm on this site is in very close proximity to the communities of Billingborough, Horbling and Swaton. There is significant evidence that wind turbines within 2km of dwellings pose a significant health threat through low level 24 hours per day noise. The nearest proposed wind turbine at Billingborough & Horbling is 500 metres!
Additionally, the Fens are an ancient and unspoilt open landscape. Wind farms, and their associated Pylons, Power Lines and Electricity Substations, are an enormous intrusion on this landscape and ruin the outlook for tens of kilometers around.
Normally local planning rules would take this into account. However by 'saying' their development is larger than 50MW, albiet without any detail to support this, E.On are seeking to completely by-pass the local planners in Grantham and take their application directly to central government. BHATS are actively fighting this process as being wholly inequitable in favour of the power companies.
BHATS consists of a core group of individuals responsible for key activities, and a wider group offering support whether in terms of ideas, time or financial. There is also a general membership of people wishing to offer support or just wishing to keep up-to-date with events concerning this proposal. The group also has close links with AGAST, another local action group opposing a similar development at nearby Sempringham Fen, as well as several other groups in Lincolnshire.
BHATS can accept financial donations via cheque and online via PayPal. See this website for details.
Please browse this site and contact us for further information, to receive our newsletter, or to join us as a member of BHATS. There is no membership fee so sign up today!
Say NO to turbine noise 24 hours per day
Say NO to lower property values
Say NO to TV and mobile phone interference
Say NO to permanent destruction of historic fen
landscape
Say NO to EXTRA CO2 emmissions from wind turbines that
fail to generate more energy in their lifetime than they use to
build!!
Say NO to shadow flicker from very large rotating
blades
Say NO to 'bullying' tactics designed to take the decision
making away from local people and give it to central government |
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About us
