Dear FriendsREG and the Local Plan!Taking these topics in reverse order, the consultation period on the second draft of Allerdale's Local Plan concludes on 12 July. If you have not already done so, we do urge members – particularly those living in the Borough of Allerdale – to send in a response.Unlike the consultation on the first draft which took place last year, no further amendments will be made to the plan at this stage. Instead, any comments/unresolved issues will be forwarded to the Planning Inspectorate along with the draft plan itself. A decision will then be made as to whether or not the Plan can be adopted.The Plan includes a minimum setback distance of 800m between wind turbines over 25m in height and residential properties. This represents a considerable improvement on the level of protection offered in the first draft. For this reason, FORCE has responded supportively. Please see attachment.We recognise that some members may consider that additional separation distances are necessary and it is for each and every one of us to decide on his/her individual response.One problem we could face is that, if the Inspector decides to reject the plan in its totality, we would be left in a void with regard to local planning and, in that situation, only national policy could be applied to new wind energy proposals.Be that as it may, the important thing is to send as many responses as possible thus demonstrating that significant numbers of us are very concerned about the proliferation of wind turbines in this area. Recent ministerial announcements have underlined the importance of local opinion.The draft local plan can be accessed atSimply click on Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Pre Submission Draft. If you wish to scroll straight through to the chapter on Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies (S19), it can be found on page 92.To make a response to any part of the draft plan, it is necessary to click on the representation form. This can then be filled in and either saved and sent to Allerdale as an email attachment or printed and posted. All relevant contact details are available on the webpage. If you wish to comment on other policies in the local plan, it will be necessary to complete a separate representation form for each.As well as the official comment from FORCE, a page of further suggestions is attached to this newsletter. Please feel free to use, adapt or reorder these if you so wish.Comments must be submitted by Friday 12th July.As many of you will already know, REG Windpower held a public exhibition on Thursday 30th May. It lasted one afternoon only and precious little notice was given. Our thanks to everyone who managed to attend and for the support shown. We will circulate details of the full application as soon as they are published.Finally, a word of good cheer. There are currently many outstanding appeals awaiting decision. But we have recently been advised of two where the Inspector has upheld the decision to refuse. One relates to Flatt Farm on the border between Allerdale and Carlisle. The other is at the opposite end of the Borough near Maryport. These are excellent results and they prove that our struggle is worth it!With best wishesMarion Fitzgerald
Wednesday 19 June 2013
REG and the Local Plan!
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