FoDDC

Peter Wright Announces His High Court Victory Against FoDDC.

Greg Lance - Watkins (Greg_L-W) Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Peter Wright Announces His High Court Victory &
Overturning Of FoDDC’s Wind Turbine Consent:

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To Make Their Case & Defend Themselves

09-Jun-2016
Peter Wright Announces His High Court Victory
&
Overturning Of FoDDC’s Wind Turbine Consent:

Dear All
In Molly’s absence abroad I wanted to share some very, very good news!
Earlier today Mr Justice Ian Dove passed Judgement in our favour in the Judicial Review. We have not yet received the formal Judgement ourselves but it is now public knowledge that he has agreed 100% with our Claim and has ordered that the Planning Consent for the Severndale Turbine by the FODDC should be quashed. Costs will also be awarded in our favour to be paid by the FODDC up to an amount to be agreed by the Judge but likely to be circa £35k.
I attach an extract from an independent Planning Bulletin that has been sent out following his decision which summarises matters as follows:-
 
“However, in upholding a local objector’s challenge to that decision, the court noted that it is fundamental that planning permissions are never for sale.
The fact that the scheme was community led did not excuse the local authority from carrying out a full examination of its planning merits.
 
The donations served no planning purpose and did not fairly and reasonably relate to the development itself, the judge ruled.
 
No particular community benefits had been identified to which the donations would be applied and the latter were thus irrelevant to the council’s determination of land use and development control issues. The planning permission was quashed.”
   
So we have won our case. It remains to be seen whether the FODDC will seek leave to appeal to the Courts of Appeal or whether Resilience and the Edwards will submit a new Planning Application afresh. But for tonight you may raise a glass to celebrate an historic victory for the true Local Community in Stroat and Tidenham.
Thank you all for your support over the past few months, we could not have done this without you.
With all best wishes
Peter Wright

Posted by: Greg Lance – Watkins (site owner)

If you would like more information about Stroat see: http://Stroat-Gloucestershire.com/

If you would like more information about Greg_L-W see: http://GregLanceWatkins.com/

E&OE

IF you note ANY errors of fact in this or any other web site or blog I own please bring it to my attention for correction @ Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com – Thank you.

Wind Turbines & The Law Was Upheld In The High Court

Greg Lance - Watkins (Greg_L-W) Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wind Turbines & The Law Was Upheld In The High Court

PLEASE:
Help To Arm People
With The Truth & Facts
To Make Their Case & Defend Themselves

04-Jun-2016
The Pendulum Swings Against Wind Turbines
&
The Law Was Upheld In The High Court

.

England not windy enough, admits wind industry chief

 

Ovenden Moor wind farm, Ovenden Halifax West Yorkshire
There are more than 5,000 turbines onshore in the UK Credit: Alamy

England is not windy enough to justify building any more onshore wind turbines, the chief executive of wind industry trade body has admitted.

Hugh McNeal, who joined RenewableUK two months ago from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, insisted the industry could make the case for more onshore turbines in some parts of the UK, despite the withdrawal of subsidies.

But he said this would “almost certainly” not be in England, as the wind speeds were not high enough to make the projects economically viable without subsidy.

We are almost certainly not talking about the possibility of new plants in England. The project economics wouldn’t work; the wind speeds don’t allow for itHugh McNeal

Although the Government has implemented its manifesto pledge to end subsidies for new onshore wind farms, the industry believes it should be able to deploy more turbines onshore if it can show that this is the cheapest form of new power generation capacity.

Current wholesale electricity prices are too low to spur investment in any new form of power generation, so the Government has already had to make subsidies available to new gas plants.

If financial support required by onshore wind is less than that required by gas, the industry argues it should no longer be regarded as “subsidy”.

Hugh McNeal
Hugh McNeal, the new chief executive of RenewableUK Credit: Eddie Mulholland

“We are now the cheapest form of new generation in Britain,” Mr McNeal said. “If plants can be built in places where people don’t object to them and if, as a result of that, over their whole lifetime the net impact on consumers against the alternatives is beneficial, I need to persuade people we should be doing that.”

But new wind farms in England were “very unlikely”, beyond those that have already secured subsidies and are awaiting construction, as they would not be cost-efficient enough to undercut gas power, he said.

“We are almost certainly not talking about the possibility of new plants in England. The project economics wouldn’t work; the wind speeds don’t allow for it.”

The admission calls into question why developers are still seeking planning consent for hundreds of new turbines onshore in England.

Analysis of Government databases by the Renewable Energy Foundation (REF), a group critical of subsidies, suggests there is till 425 megawatts of capacity in England in the planning system – although this is about a tenth of the amount seeking permission in Scotland.

Wind farm near Swindon
Wind speeds are generally lower in England than other parts of the UK Credit: Getty

Keith Anderson, chief executive of ScottishPower Renewables, said he agreed with Mr McNeal that new onshore wind in England would be “incredibly challenging”.

However, he suggested the economics could potentially be better for projects that involved removing small old turbines and building bigger, more powerful replacements on the same site.

The idea of “subsidy free” financial support for onshore wind has proved highly controversial. Owen Paterson, the former environment secretary, described it as a “con” after ministers confirmed earlier this year that they were considering the idea.

John Constable, REF director, said claims that wind power was the cheapest failed to take into account the wider cost impacts on the system.

“There has to be grid expansion to remove bottlenecks, short term response plant and or demand to cope with errors in the wind forecast, and the cost of operating a conventional fleet of almost unchanged size to guarantee security of supply,” he said.

While ministers have not ruled out “subsidy free” financial support for onshore wind, there are understood to be no current plans to offer it.

Ministers have also said they want ensure technologies have to “face their full costs”. A study on the true costs of different technologies is awaiting publication by the DECC.

To view the original article CLICK HERE

Interestingly more or less the same article cropped up in the Business Section on Sunday:

WT SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 05-Jun-2016 - 01

Clearly when we overturned the FoDDC Planning Decision with the Judicial Review, as I had every confidence we would, it would be not just an act of folly for the Council to support an appeal but grossly negligent of public funds.

Further, in the light of the new facts pertaining to Wind Turbines and how grossly inefficient they are, and how damaging they are to both climate and ecology only a selfish self servingindividual would aply for planning for a turbine and surely Lyndon Edwards would not be so desperate for subsidy and so fundamentally dishonest as to make the same application again – unless he really is under the thumb and indebted to the co directors of Ressiliance!

Let us not forget that there was very little genuine support for this costly folly in the first place and we have shown conclusively that not only were the effected community determinedly against the damage but also the reason it was originally passed by FoDDC was that the application was handled by the elected councillors in a manner that was proven to be a corruption of planning law, against the advice of their trained and responsible council officers!

Though it would potentially be libelous to state that the planning committee was corrupt there is no doubt that the High Court decision proved that due process had been corrupted!

There is no doubt in my mind that the applicant Mrs Moira Edwards put herself in a position likely to lead people to believe that her actions were not in the interest of the community she was elected to represent but that she seemed to have stood for election knowing that she was planning to obtain permission to errect a publicly subsidised Wind Turbine, but failed to adequately notify the electorate of this facts and that the company she acted with timed their lengtjh and contentious application su7mmaries to arreve at the very last minute was deeply unpleasant and though I am sure it was within the law to act in sucha manner the ethics of such behaviour was, in my opinion, exceedingly distastefull.

At the end of the day the High Court in its deliberations saw through the pages and pages of unrelated submission and on the point of law Peter Wright’s Coincil led upheld the law, overturning the FoDDC’s flawed planning decision.

When the High Court written judgement is to hand in full it will be published on this web site and let us hope that is the end of this folly and any further efforts to damage this outstandingly beautifull and unique area based upon such devious ignorance, not to mention the failure of the Forest of Dean District Council to accurately represent their constituents and the interests of the area and its people in accord with planning law.

I would like to thank Tidenham Parish Council for their efforts to represent those who elected them and note the failure of Tidenham District Council’s Councillors who did little to uphold the interests of the community going so far, in one instance, to say they would not meet with constituents as he wouldn’t be able to see the Turbine from his home! The position of the MP was also one of largely fence sitting and who did little or nothing to uphold Government policy and the law, regardless of his position as a Government Whip!

My thanks to the serried ranks of those who stood behind us from the immediate area and further afield and those who so generously gave of their time to research, investigate, transcribe and attend the many meetings that were held, also those who contributed financially to assist in the payment of costs along the route to justice – and particularly to Peter and Sue Wright who had the courage of their convictions to take the downside risks of a Judicial Review – am relieved their efforts saw justice done and firmly and accurately done.

Thank You all.

Posted by: Greg Lance – Watkins (site owner)

If you would like more information about Stroat see: http://Stroat-Gloucestershire.com/

If you would like more information about Greg_L-W see: http://GregLanceWatkins.com/

E&OE

IF you note ANY errors of fact in this or any other web site or blog I own please bring it to my attention for correction @ Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com – Thank you.

Peter Wright Had His Day In Court In Defence Of Stroat, The Severn Estuary & More

Greg Lance - Watkins (Greg_L-W) Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Peter Wright Had His Day In Court In Defence Of Stroat, The Severn Estuary & More:

PLEASE:
Help To Arm People
With The Truth & Facts
To Make Their Case & Defend Themselves

22-Apr-2016
Peter Wright Had His Day In Court
In Defence Of Stroat, The Severn Estuary & More

.

Dear All,

well we had our day at court. It all took place in number 1 Court of The Royal Courts of Justice and commenced at 09.30 on Thursday 21-Apr-2016.

It was heard by Mr Justice Ian Dove and the legal representatives included QCs, juniors and solicitors from all three participants  – Peter Wright (the Claimant in the Judicial Review), FoDDC (the defendent) and Resilience (the Interested Party- IP-).

From our WT Action group there were 8 members present, there to support Peter and his barrister and to see justice being done, and possibly 10 or 12 from Resilience. We were unsure whether there were any people specifically from FoDDC, apart from the planning applicant Cllr. Maria Edwards but guessed she and Resilience would report back.

Since Peter was the Claimant and had brought the case against the FoDDC the procedure involved our QC making the case for Peter and the other two QCs independently challenging what we had presented.

After all the arguments we were then given the right to reply and ‘dismiss’ the contra points made by the defendant (FoDDC) and Resilience (IP). 

Peter Wright’s QC, Neil Cameron put forward the case that the Council’s  decision to pass the WT was based significantly on the money which was being offered to the local community and that this was not a material planning reason and therefore the decision should be quashed.

Neither of the other Barristers could refute that the money had been offered by Resilience but endeavoured to justify why and how it was acceptable and appropriate that it was part of the planning application and therefore material to it.

Justice Dove was very well versed in planning law (he had been a planning lawyer prior to being appointed to The Bench) and engaged with each of the QCs in what he liked to call creative dialectic.  It was all undertaken in a civilised and respectful manner with all the onlookers muted – even Resilience. 

This is not to say there weren’t times when we wanted to jump up and say ‘that’s not true’ but contained ourselves by writing a note to each other to express our frustrations. 

There was a general consensus from our WT group present were surprised that Resilience had found a Counsel who was absolutely apposite for them being nothing but puff and wind combined with smoke and mirrors!! but we know how credible they can make themselves. 

The Hearing lasted until around 16.20 and then Justice Dove summed up explaining he would need time to reflect on the case which had or hadn’t been made and would give his written judgement in due course. 

On leaving the Court there was a consensus of opinion amongst our WT group that Peter’s case had been well made and Neil Cameron and team had certainly given us a chance.  We understand that nothing is certain in these situations but should the Judge find in our favour it would have a significant impact on future planning law.

Thank you to everyone who has helped to get us this far – we wish you could all have been there to appreciate what the Crowd Justice site has helped to achieve. 

As soon as we have any news and this could be from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, we shall let you know.

Whichever way it goes it is unlikely it will be the end of the battle but we are already preparing for the future fight, SO enjoy a few weeks without any WT news, recharge the batteries and prepare yourselves for the next instalment.

Best Wishes
Molly   

 

Hi,

I feel it is appropriate at this stage to lighten the matter with an amusing anecdote from the day in London at The High Court:

At approaching 09:30hrs. outside the Courts were a large number of journalists and press photographers.

On his arrival Andrew Clarke somewhat dellusionally would seem to have thought this group had arrived to interview and photograph him as he walk towards them to give his statement (Bluff, bullying, bravado with a liberal application of tuber taurinus!?), he seemed most unsettled when he realised that they were there to beard a footballer of some alleged repute who was having the judgement of his appeal against a rape conviction of 2012 presented!

That said I do feel it is worthwhile at this stage to remind readers of the issues at stake which it is our hope to defend Stroat, the Severn Estuary and the Forest of Dean in particular, against:

Also if YOU want to KNOW if your home will be overlooked by the proposed ecologically damaging, costly and grossly inefficient Wind Turbine proposed for Hanley Hill in Stroat, on Severndale Farm – Read on.

It is clear that IF the Wind Turbine is erected the applicant, Councillor Maria Edwards will receive massive subsidies for this largely useless monument to political correctness, whilst seemingly having bribed the FoDDC Planning Committee, of which she is a member, by promises of tokenry refunds of tax payer’s cash annually to the community – sums that can not even begin to pretend to compensate for the damage done by such a Wind Turbine!

To check whether your home is in the footprint of the proposed Wind Turbine see the applicant’s own admission on the map below, which they supplied, IF your home is in the blue area YOU will be in line of sight of the Wind Turbine which will stand 337 feet above the River Severn.

You will note almost all of Bulwark, Chepstow will be effected as will much of Sedbury & a large amount of Tidenham whilst the Turbine will of course be visible for a great distance in South Gloucestershire and will be clearly visible in Woolaston area – just to enrich a wealthy land owner, at the expense of every tax payer funded by costs added to fuel bills nationally, all in the dishonest pretence that they are an effective ‘green’ source of renewable energy!

WT HANLEY VISIBLE RANGE 01

 

A clear majority of the effected local community are now firmly opposed to this development.

In accordance with the Planning Practice Guidance, the community’s valid planning objections should have been taken into account and the Council should have rejected the Severndale application as the developer was not able to address the objections.

Instead, the councillors placed undue weight and consideration to unspecified ‘community benefits’ (financed by the proceeds of the turbine), which is clearly stated not to be any part planning consideration.

The Senior Planning Case Officer on two occasions advised the Planning Committee that they should not take into account these ‘community benefits’ and should refuse planning permission, but the Councillors ignored his professional judgement and advice completely in reaching their decision citing the ‘community benefits’ as one of the main reasons for granting planning permission. This fact can be confirmed by following the full transcript, in the recording of the planning meeting, provided on the FoDDC web site.

Financial considerations which are not linked to the proposed development should be ignored in determining planning applications in accordance with law and government guidelines, as to take them into account would allow applicants to effectively ‘buy’ a planning permission.

We believe the information gathered on this site can act to bring the truth, regarding the dishonesty of the claimed benefits of Wind Turbines (WT) to the front of people’s minds as they are regularly taxed, in a stealth tax, on their energy bills to fund these environmentally damaging, politically correct and fundamentally all but useless monstrosities.

We have gathered a great deal of information in our efforts to prevent the industrialisation of Stroat and the banks of the Severn Estuary and across the wider area including the Forest of Dean (FoD) as administered by The Forest of Dean District Council (FoDDC), areas of outstanding natural beauty (AoONB), sites of special scientific interest (SSI) & wildlife habitats.

Please help to spread the truth about the Wind Turbine scam and the fundamental flaws and lies of the ‘Warmists’ & self proclaimed ‘Greens’, which are dishonestly presented as ‘fact’, regarding the consequential anthropogenic influence of mankind on Global Warming and Climate Chance.

Arm yourself with facts to defeat the biggest con of the late 20th and early 21st Century, and do please spread the truth and the URL of this site as widely as you can, to help others learn the truth and how best to defend themselves against this scam.

Posted by: Greg Lance – Watkins (site owner)

If you would like more information about Stroat see: http://Stroat-Gloucestershire.com/

If you would like more information about Greg_L-W see: http://GregLanceWatkins.com/

E&OE

IF you note ANY errors of fact in this or any other web site or blog I own please bring it to my attention for correction @ Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com – Thank you.