Bucks Lacks Enough Wind

The process of preparing to erect wind turbines at Petsoe Manor Farm has been preceding quietly for over four years, with many residents unaware of what was happening. Indeed, until recently, many local parish councils were also being kept in the dark.

What follows is a list of events to date:

• September 2003: Your Energy Ltd consults the RSPB about the Petsoe Manor Farm site, along with communications companies.
• Winter 03/04: An independent consultant carries out a survey of birdlife on the site on behalf of Your Energy.
• September 2004: Your Energy Ltd submit a planning application (04/01577) to erect a 50 metre (164 feet) guyed mast to measure windspeed and direction for a period of two years. It is stated that this is not an application for a wind farm or to set a precedent for a wind farm.
• Neighbouring farmers become aware of this application and assume that nothing will happen until the end of the two year monitoring period.
• November 2004: 50 metre (164 feet) anemometry mast is erected.
• April 2005: E4environment Ltd (an environmental consultancy firm commissioned by Your Energy) begin a consultation process with many organisations including Milton Keynes Council, The National Trust, Environment Agency, Bedforshire County Council, Northamptonshire County Council and Wellingborough Council. Local parish councils and neighbouring farmers are not included in this consultation process.
• June 2005: A full scoping consultation document is produced by E4environment Ltd. The object of the scoping report is to inform the planning authority on all relevant aspects of the proposed development of 10 125 metre (410 feet) wind turbines at Petsoe Manor Farm.
• 16 August 2005: Milton Keynes Council Officers reveal in a email to the Sherington Parish Council clerk, copied to Milton Keynes councillors, that Your Energy Ltd had submitted a scoping report and are intending to submit a planning application early next year. Officers suggest the north-east area forum meeting on 24 November 2005 would be a good opportunity to consult with local Parish Councils. The email was forwarded by Milton Keynes Councillors to Emberton, Chicheley, Astwood and Hardmead Parish Councils.
• 19 August 2005: Local farmers are made aware of this major development when E4environment writes to request permission to enter their farms in order to conduct background noise monitoring.
• 28 August 2005: Some parish councils are still not aware the these proposals and several are alerted by local farmers including Olney Town Council.
• 22 September 2005: Olney Town Council holds a meeting with local parish councils to discuss wind farms at the Olney Centre.
• 27 October 2005: First meeting of local BLEW committee.
• 29 October 2005: First flight of the BLEW balloon at 125 metres (410 feet) to show the surrounding communities the height of the proposed wind turbines.
• 24 November 2005: Public meeting at Lavendon Village Hall, with representation from NPower and Your Energy (developers of the Nun Wood and Petsoe Manor Farm developments respectively).
• 12 January 2006: Public meeting in Olney Parish Church. Guest Speaker Dr John Constable, Policy and Research Director from the Renewable Energy Foundation.
• 14 March 2006: BLEW provides public support to a motion to outlaw commercial-scale wind farms in Milton Keynes. This motion is amended by Milton Keynes Borough Council, stating that existing rules provide adequate protection.
• 21 March 2006: BLEW/BLOT/CLOWD Joint Action Group presentation in All Saints Church, Turvey.
• 6 April 2006: BLEW/BLOT/CLOWD Joint Action Group presentation in Harrold Chapel.
• 20 April 2006: BLEW/BLOT/CLOWD Joint Action Group presentation in Bozeat Village Hall.
• 25 April 2006: Your Energy public exhibition at Emberton playing field pavilion.
• 27 April 2006: BLEW/BLOT/CLOWD Joint Action Group presentation in Sherington Village Hall.
• 8 July 2006: Ceilidh at Church Farm, Emberton (live music and barn dance with style) to raise funds to fight the turbines.
• 18 August 2006: Planning application 06/01349/FULEIS submitted for “construction of wind farm comprising of seven turbines up to 125 metres high, substation, anemometry mast, access tracks including access off the public highway, underground electrical cabling (for a period of 25 years) and a temporary construction compound” at Petsoe Manor Farm House, Petsoe End, Emberton. MK46 5JN.
• 23 September 2006: Quiz Night with fish and chip supper at The Robin Hood, Clifton Reynes to raise funds to fight the turbines.
• 23 September 2006: Emberton holds a local poll to make a democratic decision on whether to support or oppose the planning application. Despite last minute (and misleading) letters from Your Energy to householders “the silent majority who support wind farms across the county” (in the words of Your Energy) turn out to be in the minority as the Milton Keynes Citizen reports a 56% turnout with 85% of those polled recording opposition to the scheme.
• 13 October 2006: Official deadline for objections to the planning application; however Milton Keynes Council is still reviewing the proposals and accepting additional comments/objections.
• November 2006: Planning permission expires for the anemometry mast but Your Energy have yet to take it down (is this an indicator of how the company will act in respect of other planning obligations?).
• 17 December 2007: Milton Keynes Council development control committee approves planning application 06/01349/FULEIS by a narrow margin of 6 votes to 5.
• 18 December 2007: Rule 15 is invoked, asking the Council to overturn the DCC decision.
• 8 January 2008: The Rule 15 motion is overturned by a margin of 25 to 22 (with 2 abstentions and 1 absentee).