Energy giant Npower-renewables, part of RWE Group, is proposing to construct 8 massive wind turbines, up to 127m (416ft high) - amongst the largest in the UK - at Cotton Farm on the plateau overlooking the Ouse Valley in Cambridgeshire.

This website is run by a campaign group comprising residents from the surrounding villages of Graveley, Toseland, Great Paxton, Offord Cluny, Offord D'Arcy and Yelling. Its purpose is to provide information for local residents. The group's detailed objections to the proposal are set out on the Objections page.

If, once you have considered the information on this website, you are opposed to the proposed wind farm, please visit the Support page to register your views.

If you are still undecided but would like to discuss the issues further or find out more, please contact one of your village representatives (contact details) or contact Bev Gray on 01480 830868.

We also welcome any general comments, views, information for the website etc - please visit the Feedback page.

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Print Your Own Poster

click here to download a poster you can print (PDF format).

Alternatively, collect A4 or A3 posters from Jeff Tossell (address).

Beware of vandals – many posters have been ripped down and some placards stolen, so please store any placards from your garden in your shed, etc, at night.

Alliance forms to fight case at Appeal

The Cotton Farm Alliance has been formed to present a united front to our concerns over the impact that the proposed Cotton Farm Wind Farm would have on the area and on the amenity of people living and working nearby. This Alliance of objectors will mean there will be no duplication of evidence at the Appeal and the Alliance members will have the services of a single legal and expert witness team. The Management Committee of the Alliance comprises the Committee of the Cotton Farm Action Group and a representative from each of the other organisations. The Alliance has been recognised by the Planning Inspectorate as a main party at the inquiry and so can call witnesses and cross examine npower’s witnesses. more»

HDC Unanimously Rejects Npower's Application for a Windfarm at Cotton Farm.

At the DMP (Development Management Panel) meeting on the 16th November 2009 over 200 supporters crowded into the Burgess Hall to hear the debate.

After presentations from the Parishes, CFAG and npower the councillors, after a short debate, unanimously voted to reject the plan.

npower can appeal the decision. They have six months in which to make a decision.

The five parish councils and CFAG would like to thank all our supporters, especially those who managed to get to the meeting on the 16th, for the wonderful way you have encouraged us to continue the fight. Many of you assisted us with newsletter deliveries, donations, technical help, advice and the very important letter writing. You should all be congratulated for what you have done.

Click here for report in Cambridge Evening News

Andrew Lansley MP expresses his concerns about Wind Turbines at Cotton farm 

Andrew Lansley CBE MP for South Cambridgeshire today expressed his concerns about the erection of a wind farm at Great Parlow Close, Graveley road, Offord d’Arcy (at Cotton Farm). 

Mr Lansley remarked “Whilst it is clear that there is an urgent need for environmentally sustainable energy across Cambridgeshire, the Wind farm at Cotton farm is not the answer."  - Click here for more

[Jonathan Djanogly MP for Huntingdon has also expressed his opposition - more »]

Windfarm Visualisations Based on Data from Npower

CFAG News Blog Launched

In order to allow quicker news publishing and more flexible categorising of news items, CFAG have set up a news "blog".

Click here to view the latest news.

HDC Advises Npower to Withdraw Planning Application

2009 has got off to a promising start with the news that the senior planner at Huntingdonshire District Council has advised Npower to withdraw its planning application.

In a letter to Npower, HDC’s Head of Planning Services advised that the planning application was unacceptable based on the size, number and positioning of the turbines proposed. He also refers to concerns expressed by a number of the statutory consultees who have considered the planning application.

See press release and latest newsletter for more details

CFAG Formal Response to Application

CFAG has submitted a very detailed response to the Npower planning application at Cotton Farm. It was delivered to the planning department in Huntingdon earlier this month. The response also included alternative photograph montages showing the true effect of the turbines on our villages and surrounding area.

In outline, the Action Group’s objection to Npower’s planning application centred on four main issues:

	The landscape of the South East and broader Cambridgeshire claylands would suffer by the construction of the proposed wind farm as it is too close to too many villages and would dominate the Ouse Valley.
	The wind farm would have a major detrimental effect on the setting of listed buildings in each of the villages and in particular on the Grade II* Toseland Hall.
	There would be serious damage to the visual and recreational amenity of the area by the introduction of incongruous, intrusive elements into views from many viewpoints up to 20km away.
	There would be a detrimental impact on residential amenity from the overbearing and oppressive relationship of the wind turbines with the villages, compounded by shadow flicker, road safety concerns and increased levels of industrial noise alien to the tranquillity of the area.

From the detailed study made by CFAG, we consider that the supporting material submitted by Npower is in many respects misleading and that their assessments of the impact of the scheme do not bear close examination. The proposals do not comply with, and in some respects are contrary to, the policies and guidance concerning renewable energy development and development in rural areas.

Parish Councils Vote Unanimously to Oppose

Graveley, Great Paxton, the Offords, Toseland and Yelling parish councils have all voted on Npower's planning application. And they have all voted to recommend that HDC refuses the application. They were all unanimous.

What the proposed turbines might look like in action

This photo-montage, put together by one of our supporters, shows what the turbines might look like working.

[CFAG have made every effort to ensure that the scale, dimensions and position of the turbines in the montages are as accurately displayed as possible. Any variations are unintentional especially as the design and manufacturer of the turbines projected for the site have not been published by the developer.]

Centre For Policy Studies publish "Wind Chill - Why Wind Energy Will Not Fill the UK’s Energy Gap" by Tony Lodge

The report concludes that:

"wind energy is proving to be an unreliable, costly, uncompetitive and unpopular horse in the great energy race. Overdependence on wind energy and the resultant costs to electricity consumers risks plummeting more and more families into the fuel poverty trap."

Click here to read the report in PDF format

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