CAMPAIGNERS fighting the development of a 100-metre wind turbine have welcomed plans to give local residents more say on such developments.
New guidance is expected to tell councils that local residents' concerns should take precedence over the need for renewable energy.
The plans revealed by the Government also include proposals to increase the amount of money communities will receive for agreeing to host wind farms nearby, with householders set to get hundreds of pounds off energy bills.
The plans have been welcomed by Burton Joyce councillor Steve Cluff, who is fighting to stop a 100-metre wind turbine north of Stoke Bardolph Sewage Treatment Works, off Stoke Lane.
Mr Cluff, who is also chairman of the council's wind turbine working group, said: "The communities are the people that have to live with wind turbines, so it's vital that their voice is heard and given weight when making decisions.
"In our case, we have thousands of people who have come out time and time again against this application and it's right for local authorities to bear this in mind.
"As for the financial incentives, I think in some cases they are appropriate – the people near the turbines have to live with them – but the plans for here are too close and it's too intrusive for us to want to see this go ahead."
The new measures would also lead to an increase in what developers were expected to pay residents for allowing wind turbines in their area.
Currently, this can be up to £1,000 per megawatt of installed power, but it would be increased to £5,000.
Energy Secretary Ed Davey said: "It is important that onshore wind is developed in a way that is truly sustainable – economically, environmentally and socially, and today's announcement will ensure that communities see the windfall from hosting developments near to them, not just the wind farm.
"We remain committed to the deployment of appropriately-sited onshore wind, as a key part of a diverse, low-carbon and secure energy mix and committed to an evidence-based approach to supporting low-carbon power."
But Nigel Lee, of Nottingham Friends of the Earth, questioned the wisdom of the plans. He said: "Will this apply to fossil-intensive forms of energy generation too, or is it just wind farms?
"We are all for the idea of communities having more of a say in how energy is produced but I think this is the wrong way of going about it."
