Little Dunham: Opposition against power station grows
OPPOSITION against a plan to build a large electricity sub station near Little Dunham has increased, attracting political support.
If the proposal – put forward by green energy company Warwick Energy – is passed by Breckland Council the development will be built in a 42-acre field near the small village.
But more than 150 letters of objection have been received by the
council – which has not confirmed when the decision will be made
– and more than 1,200 people have signed a petition.Young resident
Ryan Mylum (12), from Necton Road, said: "We don't understand why we should have this built in our village.
"It will be covered with wires and big buildings. It will be noisy and
ugly and we don't want to grow up living next to it – we love the village as it is."
Complaints about the plans include the impact of the sub station on the village – as it would be built on high land – and the potential noise from traffic going on and off the site during its construction, if
it is passed. According to Warwick Energy the equipment and buildings,
which will be in the style of modern farm structures, will cover 20-25 acres and be a maximum of 15 metres high. A natural screen would also be put up for nearby homes.
The Little Dunham action group has also raised issues about the consultation phase and want Warwick Energy to consider other sites.
Mark Petterson, project director from Warwick Energy, said: "The
consultation has been open and honest and the planning application is consistent with local and national planning policies.
"The application considered all viable alternatives and concluded
that Little Dunham was the best site."
He added he was "delighted" to be able to attend a meeting with Mid Norfolk MP, Keith Simpson, and Conservative prospective parliamentary
candidate for Mid Norfolk, George Freeman, in the House of Commons, today (Wednesday), to discuss the proposal.
Both Mr Simpson and Mr Freeman have spoken to the Little Dunham action group about their concerns over the project.
Mr Freeman told the Lynn News: "It seems totally inappropriate to put it in an area of natural beauty on a hill so close to a village. I was appalled by the scale of the development."
The sub station would act as part of the proposed Dudgeon offshore wind farm and transform the voltage before entering the National Grid.
If it is given the go ahead, building will start, at the earliest, in
spring 2011 and will take two years to complete.
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Sunday 01 August 2010
Today
Light showers
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