I am the Bingham Town Council representative on the Newton Community Liaison Group formed by the planning firm who are creating the emerging proposals for the development of the former RAF Newton site.

The planning firm, Hunter Page, are keen to receive comments from the local community on the documents they have presented to the Liaison Group. There is one more Liaison Group meeting before the proposals progress to wider public consultation. If you have comments you wish me to raise at the final liaison group meeting please email them to me; jstockwood@rushcliffe.gov.uk.

The Hunter Page website is http://www.hunterpage.net/

Their RAF Newton project website is
http://www.maplerockdesign.co.uk/rafnewton/

The documents presented to the Liaison Group, including a sketch master plan, are available at http://www.maplerockdesign.co.uk/rafnewton/plans.html

It is important to note that there are many ideas in the documents provided and that any future planning application submitted by the planning applicant would be defined by what the planning applicant considers to be viable.

Additionally, it should be noted that anyone can make a planning application
but that does not mean everyone gets planning permission.

In addition to the previously mentioned proposals for the development of the former RAF Newton site, the planning firm working on the development are also considering applying for planning permission for a wind turbine.

Representatives of the Newton Community Liaison Group recently visited the Ecotech centre in Swaffham to see a wind turbine in action.

The wind turbine at the Ecotech centre is special because it has a staircase up the inside of it's tower and a viewing platform just below the hub of the blades. It is promoted as the only wind turbine in the world which members of the public are able to climb.

The Ecotech wind turbine's hub is 67 metres high,(approximately 220 feet), and each blade is half this height,(the turbine's rotor diameter of 66 metres is equivalent to two blade lengths). A wind turbine with a hub height of 67 metres is estimated to provide enough energy to power 1100 homes.

On the day of the visit it was foggy, so when standing in the viewing platform it was not possible to see much further than the end of the blades.

Representatives of the Newton Community Liaison Group noted that the wind turbine was quiet with the only noticeable noise being the regular swish of the blades. However, it was noted that the Ecotech wind turbine was a 'gearless' design which is known to be quieter than other 'geared' types of wind turbine. Also, the wind was low on the day of the visit so the level of noise from the wind turbine at full speed was not heard. One representative from the Group visited residents living in a nearby street and found that the local residents were not bothered by the wind turbine.

If a wind turbine is included as a proposal for the former RAF Newton site it would be located on the northwest side of the development, on the opposite side to Bingham. On the sketch master plan this is the top of the left side of the plan. The wind turbine would be subject to standard planning policies, including those regarding noise and environmental impact.

Based on the surrounding landscape, local knowledge and previous experience, the planning firm representatives consider the location to be viable. They suggested they could consider a wind turbine with a hub up to 80 metres high, depending on the results of detailed wind measurements. They estimate that such a wind turbine at RAF Newton could provide enough energy to power 1200 homes or more homes if the homes are especially energy efficient.

A wind turbine of this scale could cost over 3 million pounds. If the wind turbine is paid for by each new house, then each new house would have to be proportionally more expensive than if the house was not paying for a wind turbine.

A different way to fund a wind turbine would be for the planning firm's client to lease the land to a commercial wind turbine operator. The commercial wind turbine operator would pay for the wind turbine in order to profit from selling the energy generated. The planning firm's client may choose to donate to the local community the money from leasing the land, possibly funding further environmental initiatives in the proposed development.

The wind turbine idea is only one idea being considered. A proposal for a wind turbine may be included in the public consultation on the development of the RAF Newton site, but it could be submitted as a separate planning application.

Representatives of the Newton Community Liaison Group expressed concern that the idea of a wind turbine of this size would be so exciting/appalling, (depending on your own view), that it may be a distraction from the debate about the appropriate scale and facilities for the rest of the proposed development. The Liaison Group hopes that comments made now, along with comments made in any subsequent public consultation, will include local community views on all aspects and impacts of any proposed development.

Ecotech Centre at Swaffham

http://www.ecotech.org.uk/

Ecotech Centre wind turbine details from the operator, Ecotricity. (Ecotricity also operate the 80m high wind turbine at B&Q at Worksop).

http://www.ecotricity.co.uk/wind-parks/

My certificate for climbing the Ecotech Centre wind turbine

http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BxfjR4pEEJgoYTM5MjgxNTYtMzhlYy00MjcyLWIxZTctMzM2M2RjNzE3MGFj&hl=en_GB

Cllr. J. A. Stockwood.

The next meeting of the Newton Community Liaison Group is being scheduled for the last week in February.

If you have any comments you wish me to make at the meeting, please ensure they reach me by 21st February.