Latest News

For more news and updates see our discussion board

4th March 2009

It was confirmed yesterday by Gareth Leigh at DECC that Marshland Wind Farm Limited has withdrawn its application to build 19 wind turbines in Marshland St James, Tilney St Lawrence, Emneth and Outwell, meaning there will be no Public Inquiry.

They do, of course, state that they intend to submit a new application later in the year, so we all need to remain vigilant.

With this threat in mind, we will obviously be keeping the FLAT website up and running and sending out e-mails as and when we hear any news.  Please continue visiting the website as well as making sure you are registered to receive the updates – or e-mail info@flat-group.co.uk to be added.  

Although things may now go a little quiet, our contact details will remain the same and we urge you to let us know if you see or hear of anything wind turbine related as soon as possible, however insignificant you feel this information is.  This will ensure we nip and future proposals in the bud.

Whilst we hope that this is an end to the matter, we cannot rest on our laurels BUT would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported us so far.  Without your help we would never have achieved what we have......who would have thought our small villages would have become so well known nationally?!

We hope you’ll all be there for us still if we need you later in the year!

Stay vigilant and keep in touch!

17th February 2009

Updated the "What Can I Do?" page with details of how you can help FLAT in their ongoing campaign against the Wind Turbine Farm.

Updated the Events Page with details of FLAT's forthcoming Great Auction.

22nd January 2009

FANTASTIC NEWS!

For those of you who couldn't attend (and haven't heard already!) the Development Control Board voted unanimously at the meeting today to object to the proposal.  

They objected as a 'consultee' and the ultimate decision will be made by DECC but because they have objected this should now trigger a Public Inquiry.

Thank you so much to those who attended today and also to everyone who objected to the Council.

We now need to raise funds for a possible Public Inquiry.  As per our last public meeting, we are asking for people to 'pledge' an amount of money they would be willing to donate to fund the relevant legal expenses involved, which are huge!  Please contact me at info@flat-group.co.uk to discuss this further - or just send me your name, contact details and the amount.

15th January 2009

• Added FLAT Rebuttal document and other information on the Campaign page
  
  
• Updated the information page with links to: Whittlesey Ice throw and UFO damage

14th January 2009

On Wednesday 21 January 2009 King's Lynn & West Norfolk Borough Council Development Control Board will be holding their special meeting to decide the outcome of their consultation regarding the wind farm application.

The meeting will start at 2pm and is being held in the Assembly Rooms, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King's Lynn.  (Near St Margaret's Church).

We need as many people to attend as possible to show how strongly we object to this application.  The press will be in attendance so we really do not want pictures of any empty room being printed!  Can you please ensure your friends/neighbours are aware of this too.

Thank you to all of those that have already sent in an objection.  For those who haven't yet, you have up until Friday 16 January 2009 - 4.45pm so please get typing!  To help you, just click on this link http://online.west-norfolk.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_comments_entryform.aspx?caseno=K8OFU1IV05900 BUT MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE REASON TO 'OBJECT' or you will only be making a comment on the application.

Hope to see a lot of you on the 21st.

8th January 2009

• Added a link to the Borough Council website where you can object to the application. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHANGE THE RADIO BUTTON TO OBJECT AS THE DEFAULT IS TO JUST COMMENT.
  Hurry up and do this now, as time is running out!

4th December 2008

• Added press release of 3rd December 2008, concerning ice falling from wind turbines in Whittlesey

20th November 2008

• Added press release of 17th November 2008
  
  
• Updated Information Page with a new link: NOISE IS A PROBLEM! - WHITTLESEY: Family living in shadow of monster wind turbine say the noise is driving them out

PLEASE NOTE: There is a change on the leaflet "What you Can Do to Help & Details of Public Meeting". The centre address should be sent to:- John Shaw - Department of Planning & Transportation, Norfolk County Council, County Hall, Martineau Lane,Norwich,NR1 2DH. E-mail: john.r.shaw@norfolk.gov.uk, and NOT the Norwich City Council

13th November 2008

• Added Correspondence relating to an accusation from Marshland Wind Farm about “dodgy dealings”
• Added Press Release of 12th November 2008

8th November 2008

• Press Release 8th November 2008

24th October 2008

• Added two new leaflets:
  • Valid Reasons for Objecting to the Proposal
    
    
  • What you Can Do to Help & Details of Public Meeting

17th October 2008

• Added Press Release concerning misleading press releases by Marshland Wind Farm Ltd
• Updated Events page - Public Meeting on 14th November

10th October 2008

• Added Press Release concerning the Planning Application

17th September 2008

• Added two new links to informative articles in the Telegraph:
  
  
  • Windfarms: One of the great deceptions of our time
    
    
  • Wind farms fail to deliver value for money, report claims

15th September 2008

• Added Press Release of 15th September 2008
• Added further correspondence to and from Advertising Standards Authority - adjudication withdrawn

10th September 2008

• Added Press Release of 10th September 2008
• Added correspondence to and from Advertising Standards Authority, and Final Adjudication concerning a complaint.

7th July 2008

Added Minutes of Public Meeting held on 25th March 2008

5th June 2008

Coffee and Information Morning to be held on Saturday 7th June at the Jubilee Hall, Marshland St James, from 10.30am to 2.30pm. As we get closer to the inevitable planning application, please come along to this informal even to share information and have a coffee and cake.

14th May 2008

• Added new videos - demonstrating shadow flicker and showing a turbine on fire
  
  
• Updated Links Page with BATTLE - Bradwell and Tillington Tackling Lost Environment

7th May 2008

• Added Press Release of 6th May 2008

25th April 2008

• Added Press Release of 16th April 2008
  
  
• BBC News Video concerning the wind turbines
  
  
• We now have times for the consultation meetings at Marshland and Tilney - they will both be held from 4.00pm to 9.00.pm

16th April 2008

• Added Press Release of 15th April 2008
  
  
• Developers will be holding a consultation meeting at Tilney on 2nd May. Further details to follow.

10th April 2008

• Added Press Release of 9th April 2008
  
  
• Added details of Developers consultation meeting to be held on 1st May 2008
  
  
• Updated details of those involved in the wind farm. Please e-mail, write or phone all of those involved (as often as you think appropriate) so that they are left in doubt that you oppose this development.  However, please keep your comment polite but firm and do not resort to abusive or threatening behaviour!
  
  
• Added Press Release of 26th March 2008

1st April 2008

• We can confirm that the email addresses to all the Borough Councillors are now working correctly.
  
  
• Article in Wisbech Standard - FENLAND: Parish council chairman issues warning over wind turbines
  
  
• ANNUAL PARISH COUNCIL ASSEMBLY will be held on Monday 7th April at Marshland St James Methodist Church, Smeeth Road - 7:00pm. We urge all villagers who have an issue with the proposed wind turbines to attend the above meeting. There will be an open forum where you will be able to ask questions to our parish councillors, who up until now have steadfastly refused to engage with parishioners on this subject. This is one of the very few opportunities you will get to have your say - please make the most of it!

30th March 2008

IMPORTANT!

Unfortunately, due to technical reasons, it seems that the Borough Councillors may not have received emails sent using our form. If you have already used our submission form, could we ask that you write again. Click here for their email addresses

28th March 2008

• Added details of an Auction being held by FLAT

28th March 2008

• Added correspondence from and to Parish Councillor Sue Askew
• Added new links: Pontefract Windfarm Action Group & Make Your Own Noise!

26th March 2008

• Added a form to submit an email to all borough councillors
  
  
• Updated known members of the consortium

22nd March 2008

• Added new link at information on wind turbines
  The Visual Issue
  
  For over a decade, windfarm visualisations have been a subject of controversy. Many communities across Scotland believe that the photomantages presented in the Environmental Statements are misleading and do not provide an accurate prediction of visual impact. This link takes you to a paper that endeavours to lift the veil of technical complexity to give you the facts behind the issue and the new SNH Guidance.

17th March 2008

• Added Press Release - A PLEA FOR MORE CONSULTATION
• Updated the Events Page with details of Parish Council Meeting tonight.

15th March 2008

• Press Release concerning the aborted Marshland Windfarms Ltd consultation event at Marshland St James Jubilee Hall

14th March 2008

• Updated details of the consortium and proposal
• Added Press Release 11th March 2008

10th March 2008

A PUBLIC MEETING will be held on 25th March, starting at 7.00pm, at Marshland Jubilee Hall, Marshland St James. The emphasis of this meeting will be what action can be taken to object to this development and therefore prevent it happening. We will update information as and when we hear of any.

7th March 2008

FLAT wrote to the shareholders of Marshland Windfarms Ltd in January asking for further details about the wind factory proposal with specific reference to public consultation.  Despite not having the courtesy to write back to us, it does look as if our letter had some affect because they have finally agreed to come clean about the proposal and are holding consultation events on the following dates and locations:

• Monday 10th March 2008 at Outwell Village Hall from 4pm to 9pm
• Tuesday 11th March 2008 at Emneth Village Hall from 4pm to 9pm
• Friday 14th March 2008 at Marshland St James Jubilee Hall from 4pm to 9pm

It is interesting to note that the posters that they put up in shop windows, etc., said 3pm until 10pm and this has now changed to 4 until 9.  If they can’t get such a simple thing right ask yourself what faith you can have in anything else they say especially their promises of a £500K bribe for the area!!!!

We would encourage everyone to attend these events to view the immense scale of the plans and to judge for themselves what affect it will have on our community!!!

Obviously information will now start to flow thick and fast so please regularly visit our website for updates.

1st March 2008

• Message from FLAT
• Letter to Marshland Wind Farm Ltd
• Videos of Wind Turbine Accidents

22nd November 2007

• Added letters written from FLAT to Parish Councillor Bantoft

15th October 2007

• Added Press Release 13th October 2007

3rd October 2007

• Added Press Release 2nd October 2007
• Added Press Release 16th September 2007
• Added the following article links to the Information page:
  • The protocols for public engagement with proposed wind energy developments
  • The assessment and rating of noise from wind farms
  • The measurement of low frequency noise at three UK wind farms
  • Landscape and visual impacts
  • Wind farms impact on radar aviation interests
  • Aeronautical and military Impacts
  • Wind Energy And Aviation Interests – Interim Guidelines
  • Best Practice Guidelines for Wind Energy Development
  • Delivering community benefits from wind energy development: a toolkit
  • An Energy Review Consultation
  • Whinash Windfarm Public Inquiry, Refusal Decision

2nd September 2007

• Join us on 30th September for a Family Country Fair! All proceeds towards FLAT.
  Fun day and car boot sale. Contact 07789 524850 to book your car boot sale or donations.

23rd August 2007

• You may now write to us by snail-mail to:
  FLAT, P.O. BOX 182, WISBECH, PE14 4BL

15th August 2007

• We have just heard that there will be a Parish Council Meeting tonight at 7.30pm at Jubilee Hall to discuss a proposed development to the rear of Hickathrift House to be used for care of people with mental problems.

08 August 2007

• Added details of Marshland Consortium  Members, the Consultants and the Developers.

31st July 2007

• Added Press Release
• Added recent letters from FLAT to Councillors Woolner and Bantoft

26th July 2007

• Added press release of 26th July 2007, concerning the extradorinary parish council meeting.

25th July 2007

We feel that the Parish Council has not adequately represented a large proportion of the parishioners as regards the proposed wind factory development.  To the best of our knowledge they have known about this proposal for at least 2 years and STILL refuse to discuss the matter at recent meetings and have hid behind “procedures” to dismiss the subject.  They have also refused to meet with members of your local action group (ie FLAT) and seem to be treating us with contempt. 

We have now learnt that there will be an extraordinary general meeting held at the Jubilee Hall on Friday the 27th of July at 7:30.  We understand that the current Chairman is standing down and a new Chairman will be elected at the meeting.  It would seem likely that the new Chairman will be one of the original Parish Councillors and  based on the Parish Council’s previous track record they may well yet again fail to grasp the strong feelings of the local parishioners.  It would therefore be desirable to show them exactly how the local community feels by turning up in force for the meeting, although we may not be able to voice our opinion regarding the wind factory because they have managed to keep it off the agenda yet again!  However just your presence will not go unnoticed by them!

Sorry this is such short notice, but we hope to see you there!

16th July 2007

• A Parish Council Meeting will be held tonight at 7.30 in Marshland Village Hall.

06 July 2007

• Added minutes of meeting held on 18th May 2007
• Added press release of 30th June 2007
• Updated contact details of committee

24 June 2007

• Added details about Fund Raising for F.L.A.T.

17 June 2007

• Display a Poster!   Show your support for FLAT by displaying one (or more!) of these posters.

05 June 2007

• Sign the Petition! Marshland Fen is an internationally famous landscape that attracts tourists from everywhere who come to visit and see what has become known as the 'big sky'. It is an area containing many species of birds that are at the time of instigating this petition lawfully protected. A petition to the Prime Minister to Protect The Wildlife On Marshland Fen has been started. Click here to sign the Petition
  
  
• Added addresses for the MP and MEP for people to write to.

29 May 2007

• Added Press Release dated 26th May 2007

24 May 2007

Regarding the recent tragic news of the death of Richard Herbert. Naturally we are shocked about the terrible news. Richard was a well respected and valued family man who will be a greatly missed member of our small community. Our thoughts and prayers are of course with Richard’s family at this difficult time.

• Added FLAT's press releases
• Updated Links
• Added new Information - A Problem with Wind Power by Eric Rosenbloom
• Updated the Proposal

03 May 2007

• Added minutes of public meeting held on 7th April at Marshland St James
• Added link to a video that should be of great interest
We are now able to accept donations by PayPal:

01 May 2007

• Contrary to local rumours, there is no confirmation that the landowners have refused permission for the turbines to be built. Therefore, we need to push forward with the campaign.
  
  
• Updated Events with details of meeting at Tilney St Lawrence

29 April 2007

This site was launched in order to keep people informed

19 April 2007

FLAT held their first open meeting in the Jubilee Village Hall of Marshland St James. The turnout was believed to be the biggest ever remembered in the village. The hall was jammed pack full, with a large number having to stand outside. A quick show of hands proved the majority of attendees were against the proposal for the wind farm.