As a seasoned campaigner myself - finding that I, for a good time being the initiator and leader of a campaign to stop a local so-called wind farm that was, if passed by planners, going to place numerous 115 metre high (taller than Lincoln Cathedral) wind turbines smack, bang, in the middle of a beautiful rural landscape and within sight of at least two other wind farms (and the AONB Lincolnshire Wolds), turning the area into an 'industrial' landscape, I know how campaigning can take over a person's life. [Sorry about that long sentence.] The planners agreed with our campaign and it was unanimously rejected eventually but there is always the chance that the developers, a German-owned company, Energiekontor, will re-apply for planning when they consider that the political climate is right - that's probably why a local Councillor, living nearby and right in the sight of the formerly proposed Asserby wind farm is busy moving away to leafy Woodhall Spa, that is filled to the rafters with his fellow Conservatives but interestingly I see that his property (in Thurlby) is still for sale after a couple of months (but no doubt will sell to an ill-informed incomer who wants a pleasant rural camping and caravanning business, probably unaware that it's turnover will drop through the floor once, and if, any nearby wind farm ("Asserby") gets planning permission). As this post is compiled, the end of the Labour Party's Conference has occurred and a headline from that conference stated that "renewables" would figure highly if labour were elected at the next (possibly soon) general election. I noted, however, that off-shore wind was mentioned, but not on-shore (that needs investigating I think).
If anyone wants more information and 'history' of the Asserby Wind Farm its here in the form of a Google search that will act as a signpost.
Sutton on Sea campaign
(link to campaign news article & film here):
Personal intro:
When I think of Sutton Sea (which is only a short distance from where I live) I think of our two grandchildren playing for hours in the fountains of the paddling pool and safely playing as part of learning to swim. It not only supplied an ideal setting for grandparents to relax whilst half-watching their loved ones having fun but it also had the great therapeutic affect of realising all of the following:
- Kids don't need screens to have fun.
- Outdoor activities are healthy and can be great fun too.
- Who needs a "soft play area" (as my daughter requested when visiting us from down south & we ended up in Lincoln - she being unconvinced by our assertions about our local sandy beach & the paddling pool)?
- Old-fashioned values, locations (like Sutton on Sea with its delightful promenade etc) and facilities are highly valuable and valued and should not be 'abandoned' even if there is cost involved to Councils.
They really should use the caption "SOS for SOS" (shouldn't they)?
I might try to track down who is behind the campaign to see if I can offer help as I totally identify with their aims.
Below is a video (not taken by me but freely available through YouTube) that gives newcomers a little bit of a moving image view of SOS but unfortunately does not show really at all the beach huts that are a core part of the current campaign. It does show the paddling pool though. Thanks to the film camera person and provider of the film.
I have established who is leading this campaign - it's a chap called Travis Hesketh but although I have Googled him I can only find links to his Facebook account (I don't do FB any more on an issue of principle) and there seems no other easy way to contact him. If he ever sees this blog - "I'd like to help you if I can."
Here is a link to his online ELDC petitions (two). Please sign them as have I.
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