Cold Ashby Views and Comments
Here the Cold Ashby Rambler posts articles on issues affecting the village.
Some will be his own - others will, hopefully, be those of other parishioners.
Current comments and ongoing discussion can be read, or your views added, on the Guestbook and Message Board or Cold Ashby Blogger page.
Useful links to relevant sites follow any comments.
Updates on Local Issues in Cold Ashby
Winwick Windfarm
Update below (26th February) :
Daventry District Council have now notified me that the inquiry into the appeal re. Winwick Wind Farm ( appeal APP/Y/2810/A/11/2156527) will not now begin , as previously stated, on Tuesday 20th March but on Thursday 12th April at 10.00 a.m. and continue for 10 days (excluding Monday 16th April). This is 'to avoid the break between sitting days.'
Curiouser and curiouser ... !
Buses from Cold Ashby
Click on Latest Developments.
Since 5th September 2011 Cold Ashby has ‘disappeared’ from the regular bus timetables.
A new scheme has been introduced called ‘County Connect’ which is intended to provide residents of Cold Ashby with a book ahead link ( by phone, text or internet) to the main bus routes and/or local towns and villages.
The Rambler has joined the scheme and is awaiting his welcome pack before making his first booking and trip.
*A full report of this trip is now on the Blogger Page.
In order to participate it is necessary to register with the operators at http://www.county-connect.co.uk/ .
Traffic Calming in Cold Ashby
**Click here for latest on Traffic Calming.
Despite the official cutting of Speed watch , reported earlier, the Parish Council are still able to operate the scheme and volunteers had the equipment at the ready when the sudden announcement of the closure of Naseby Road curtailed their activities.
The closure was to facilitate the surfacing of a huge lay-by at great expense and for reasons as yet unknown to the Rambler or even the Parish Council.
The feeling, generally, is that this money might have been better spent on the planned physical Traffic Calming agreed for the West Haddon Road.
More positively, the Rambler is pleased to report that the bollards installed in Main Street have had a distinctly calming effect on driver behaviour, preventing the mounting of the pavement by vehicles and slowing traffic generally at busy times.
Winwick Wind Farm - The Rambler’s Response to E-on’s Planning Application
The Rambler has attended as many meetings and ‘exhibitions’ as he could; asked questions, listened to answers, heard opinions, expressed them, looked at the visuals and read the information.
From the morass of facts, figures, claims and counter-claims, two key issues have begun to emerge as those most specifically affecting Cold Ashby, its neighbouring villages and surrounding countryside:
The visual impact of the seven 125.6 M turbines (with 93M diameter revolving rotors) on our very special landscape and views from Honey Hill.
The impossible demands which construction, maintenance and ultimate decommissioning of the installation will make on the access routes.
These should, in the Rambler’s view, form the crux of our objections to the proposal.
Any further points, agreements or disagreements that readers may have would, as ever, be most gratefully received.
The Rambler offers the following observations on the poor attendance at the open meeting called by Cold Ashby Parish Council re. the proposed erection of seven wind turbines to create Winwick Warren Wind Farm:
The original notice headed ‘Winwick Warren Wind Farm - This is important’ was intended to establish whether a meeting was necessary or not and the time, date and venue were, consequently, not known until responses had been received and analysed.
This meant that individuals were, effectively, asked to commit themselves to a meeting which they might not be able to attend, owing to prior commitments.
The meeting was finally called in the middle of the Half Term Week and, I believe, on the same evening as a rehearsal for the Village Pantomime.
These factors need to considered as possible explanations for the poor response.
They do not, however account for an attendance of only 15!
My own suspicion is that many of us are, understandably, reluctant to oppose apparently ‘Green’ developments, believing them necessary for the survival of the planet and the well-being of future generations. Nor do we wish to be regarded as ‘nimbyish’ Luddites, opposing technological change in our immediate environment. However, the case for inland wind farms is extremely weak. Their inefficiency is such that permanent back-up power sources will always be required - particularly when the wind either drops or blows too hard.
The Rambler strongly believes that any so-called ‘ green’ advantages attached to E-on’s proposal are miniscule compared to the drastic visual impact these 126.5 M high turbines will have on the beautiful stretch of undulating countryside around Winwick Warren.
We should unite in Cold Ashby to oppose this development - we have a responsibility to protect the countryside from this creeping industrialisation.
Winwick Wind Farm - useful links below:
Site Last Updated - 22/05/2012 10:45:12
