Weather mast for South Warwickshire windfarm approved

An energy firm wanting to build a huge windfarm in South Warwickshire have won their second appeal to put a weather mast up on the site.



Broadview want to build five turbines, each the size of the London Eye, at Lower Spring Farm near Bishop’s Itchington.

They’d had two attempts to put up a mast to test wind conditions there rejected, and having won an appeal, plan to have it up and operational in April.

Olly Buck, spokesman for Broadview, said: “We’re looking to commence construction in the next two to three weeks.”

“Generally, the mast takes between 24 and 48 hours to erect, and will be up for two years – after the first year, we should have good data on weather conditions in the area.”

“We’re pleased at this decision – having made changes to the scheme, based on the recommendations from planners.”

Campaigners against the project – who’ve created their own group FRAWT – say both the windmast and the farm itself would be in the wrong location and would be devastating for the local environment.

Graham Margetson, FRAWT spokesman, said: “This is a sad day for everybody – with all the local authorities united in this area, including our local MP, that putting up a mast here would be crazy.”

“Of all the people who wrote in protesting, there wasn’t one person who supported the scheme. If democracy can be trampled on like this by one individual, it’s a pretty poor day.”

Meanwhile, electricity company EDF are drawning up for another farm, with 13 huge turbines, close to the village of Wormleighton near Southam.

The firm say it could power up to 12,500 homes and save around 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being produced each year.