Community group takes legal action against Bradwell wind farm decision (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Community group takes legal action against Bradwell wind farm decision

12:41pm Wednesday 10th March 2010

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A CAMPAIGN group’s spending could top £100,000 after they announced they will go to the High Court to challenge the Bradwell wind farm development.

Battle (Bradwell and Tillingham Tackling Lost Environment) have already fought two planning applications, two public inquiries and sought Judicial Review in a five-year fight against the wind farm.

Lawyers acting on their behalf are now seeking Judicial Review, of the planning inspector’s decision to grant RWE npower renewables permission for ten wind turbines at Hockley Farm, for a second time.

Chairman Neil Yates said: “We have eight grounds. All of which we believe stand a very good chance of being sympathetically reviewed in the High Court.

“We are quietly confident.”

Maldon District Council originally refused permission for the wind farm. NPower won on appeal and the council decided not to challenge the decision.

However Battle went to the High Court seeking judicial review and won.

This meant a second public inquiry was needed. NPower won again.

The council again decided not to pursue it further - having spent £170,000 of taxpayers’ money on the two public inquiries.

But Battle will again challenge the decision and the group has some sympathy with the council - having spent more than £80,000 themselves.

Mr Yates said: “I was not really surprised with the council’s decision but obviously disappointed.

“But they have got to consider the expense across the whole district. A big chunk of the budget was used last year on the public inquiry.

“And if we win and NPower appeal again the council will face another public inquiry.”

He added “a massive thank you” to the residents and supporters stating “we would not have got anywhere near this far without the support of the vast majority of the people in Bradwell and Tillingham and the Dengie Peninsula”.

Details of the specific grounds of the appeal have not yet been revealed but the chairman confirmed the group was particularly unhappy that the significant harm to the local area was recognised and ignored.

Melissa Read, planning specialist at RWE npower renewables, said: “We are disappointed, but not surprised, that there has been a legal challenge to the Planning Inspector’s decision for a second time.

“We are now reviewing the details of this second challenge but remain confident that Bradwell-on-Sea is a suitable location for a wind farm which, when built, will make a valuable contribution to UK renewable energy targets.”

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