Greens Furious At Undemocratic Decision To Block Wind Farm

20 August 2006 - Due to a quirk in the Local Government Act (2000), a single councillor has been able to lodge a strategic planning objection by Norfolk County Council to a Wind farm development of crucial national significance.

On Friday August 18th, the Norfolk County Council Planning and Highways Delegation Committee and Panel discussed the proposed Sheringham Shoal Wind farm on the North Norfolk coast. Under the Local Government Act (2000), a single Councillor, Councillor Adrian Gunson (chair), was able lodge a Strategic Planning objection to the wind farm on behalf of the Council, despite 3 of the 5 Councillors on the Panel arguing for making no such objection.

County Green Councillor Andrew Boswell who spoke at the meeting in favour of the wind farm development says, "The decision has no democratic meaning, as it was made against the recommendation of the Council officers and against the views of the majority of the Panel members. It is deplorable that this committee's configuration, under the LGA Act 2000, allows just one councillor to make this decision on behalf of the entire County Council."

Councillor Boswell continued, "This wind farm development is of crucial importance to our national objectives of meeting the government's target for renewables of 20% by 2020, as it would provide about half of Norfolk's domestic electricity, about 1% of the UK total from carbon free sources. The wind farm would be 17-23km from the coast, a distance only rarely visible – it is ludicrous to argue that this can damage the environment of our beautiful Norfolk coastline."