This Lincs Echo article continues the questions over the LCC's bias against wind

http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/Claims-wind-farm-bias-ridiculous-says/story-17879560-detail/story.html

Radio Lincolnshire interview 15/01/12

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p012t74m interview starts at 1h 39m (available till 21/01/13)

 You'll hear Cllr Hill say

• We're not totally against wind farms
• We've a duty of well being for all the residents in Lincolnshire
• Someone had to take a stand and say "enough is enough"
• Lots of money in wind farms and vested interests asked us to consult the public.
• Science is showing wind technology is not reliable,not going to be sustainable, does not deliver and isn't worth a "pen".
• I believe in democracy.
• I object to being misrepresented, we are not issuing a biased survey.
• The survey has had 2500 replies and so far 75-80% of people agree with us.

The survey is due to conclude on 21/01/13

If you want to see how big a contribution Lincolnshire is making to the national drive for wind power
check page 21 of " the case for and against onshore wind" listed in the useful links

No bias on wind

I've created an online petition directed at Lincolnshire County Council
You can access it here.  No bias on wind

Please take the time to add your name and forward to your contacts within Lincolnshire.

Thanks

James

(This letter has been been recently mailed to the 77 Lincolnshire County Councillors)

Dear Councillor, 

We are a group of Lincolnshire residents who are concerned with recent pronouncements from Lincolnshire County Council on the development of wind farms in Lincolnshire.

The recent survey launched on the County Council web site is preceded by this statement. “A tough stand against wind farms has already been taken by Lincolnshire County Council, and we’d like to make that official policy. However, it’s only right that we should first ask your opinion”.

Our questions are these;

•      Why incur costs to create official policy on matters outside your statutory duties?
•           Are you not contravening DCLG code of recommended practice for Local Authority publicity, particularly the reference to balance and factual accuracy?

  “Local authorities should ensure that publicity relating to policies and proposals from central government is balanced and factually accurate. Such publicity may set out the local authority’s views and reasons for holding those views, but should avoid anything likely to be perceived by readers as constituting a political statement, or being a commentary on contentious areas of public policy.” https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/5670/1878324.pdf

•        Is an online survey, containing questions with a degree of bias, launched within a very narrow time frame, really the best way to gain a mandate for “official policy” ?

In our view it is essential that a proven, efficient, low carbon technology such as wind should be dealt with impartially by our planning authorities. The world is changing and we must accept that “business as usual” is a rapidly vanishing option. The government’s renewed commitment to the potentially damaging search for shale gas admirably indicates the level of desperation regarding the future of UK energy supply.

We need to install at least double the current capacity of on shore wind generation by 2020 to get within touching distance of the UK’s commitment to renewable energy. Virtually all the units of electricity we produce with wind power conserve gas resources for the future. We should not be advocating, directly or indirectly, the unnecessary consumption of this irreplaceable fuel.

In conclusion, wind power has a significant capacity to help boost the Lincolnshire economy. Please find the time to read more about the economic impact of wind turbines online at Economic impacts of onshore wind

We ask for your support to prevent the creation of an “official” anti-wind farm policy by Lincolnshire County Council.

Yours sincerely    

James Pocklington

On behalf of Lincolnshire Pro Wind Alliance

These are the on line survey questions                   and my comments

2. Wind farms should play a part in meeting Lincolnshire’s future energy needs * Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree No opinion	Wind farms are part of a national strategy to install renewable energy for the UK. Is it feasible or even desirable to demand that electricity generated in Lincolnshire is consumed in Lincolnshire?
3. Any wind farm development should give due regard to other social and environmental considerations * Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree No opinion	It is extremely unlikely that anyone would disagree with that statement so why ask it?
4. How important are the following factors in deciding where to locate new wind farm developments?	All of the following factors are important considerations in the location of wind farms.
a. The impact on Lincolnshire’s landscapes, including areas of outstanding natural beauty and coastal conservation * Very important Important Not very important Not important at all No opinion	All wind farms are a visual intrusion to the Lincolnshire landscape, you cannot hide them. How they impact our perception of the view depends on how much importance we attach to their function.
b. The impact on areas of historic or scientific interest * Very important Important Not very important Not important at all No opinion	Every planning application needs to be assessed thoroughly to determine the impact of wind turbines on any location, including historic and SSSI.
c. The impact on the day-to-day lives of residents * Very important Important Not very important Not important at all No opinion	Technical solutions have been introduced to minimise impact on nearby residents, but the degree to which they effect an individual does appear to be related to a general acceptance of wind farm function. Where wind farm installations directly benefit the community the levels of acceptance within the community are much higher.
d. The impact on the county’s tourism economy Very important Important Not very important Not important at all No opinion	Apart from the anecdotal, is there any evidence that wind farms significantly affect visitor numbers? A recent DECC survey found that only 12% of those interviewed opposed the use of on shore wind. You can find the public attitudes tracking survey at; DECC tracker survey
5. The council’s guidelines should be taken into consideration by local planning authorities and developers when deciding where to locate new developments * Strongly agree Agree Disagree Strongly disagree No opinion	There is no statutory requirement for the county council to have their view considered and that should remain the case. The council should commit resources to their existing statutory challenges and not seek out fresh ones.

.

L.C.C. consult the people..sort of ?

Lincolnshire County Council have decided to go to the people and ask about wind farms. They could have commissioned an outside company to do the survey which would have given the result some credibility, but have instead opted to do it themselves presumably in the belief that only the residents that are anti-wind will take the time to protest.

Not sure how long this has been live but they want replies by 17th January 2013.
You can complete the survey here :       LCC windfarm survey 

These are the questions asked on the online survey. I'm not sure what they'll do if the result doesn't back up their stated position.. presumably retract it?

The questions are:

2. Wind farms should play a part in meeting Lincolnshire’s future energy needs *
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
No opinion

3. Any wind farm development should give due regard to other social and environmental considerations *
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
No opinion

4. How important are the following factors in deciding where to locate new wind farm developments?

a. The impact on Lincolnshire’s landscapes, including areas of outstanding natural beauty and coastal conservation *
Very important
Important
Not very important
Not important at all
No opinion

b. The impact on areas of historic or scientific interest *
Very important
Important
Not very important
Not important at all
No opinion

c. The impact on the day-to-day lives of residents *
Very important
Important
Not very important
Not important at all
No opinion

d. The impact on the county’s tourism economy *
Very important
Important
Not very important
Not important at all
No opinion

5. The council’s guidelines should be taken into consideration by local planning authorities and developers when deciding where to locate new developments *
Strongly agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
No opinion


Please take a bit of time to complete the survey and good luck in selecting answers that reflect your views!

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