Delight as Eon Withdraws Application

Eon made the announcement this week they were cancelling their wind farm project near Aycliffe, much to the elation of many local people including those living next to the proposed site in Morden and Bradbury villages.
They have been fighting for over three years to stop the intrusion of the largest turbines in the country in a region already with more than its fair share of this supposed renewable energy source.
The Government’s decision to axe subsidies for onshore wind farms has obviously led to the cancellation but it is also thanks to the fierce local campaign that first changed the proposal from 45 turbines to 24 and then caused the delays through planning procedures and efforts of our MP.
Phil Wilson said: “Eon’s announcement is excellent news. County Durham has played its part in windfarm development. I am not opposed to such development in principle, but the Isles  Windfarm was a step too far, and was inappropriately placed. I’m pleased EON has finally listened to the arguments put forward by local campaigners and have now withdrawn their planning application.’
TICTAC the local anti Isles Windfarm campaign group sent the following letter to Newton News.
Dear Sir,
I am delighted that Eon have withdrawn their application to erect 24 wind turbines on the Bradbury, Mordon and Preston Carrs. (The Isles) Whilst the reductions in subsidies and the changes in government policy no doubt influenced the decision, I am certain that the campaign coordinated by TICTAC and supported so strongly by local communities also had a part to play. If TICTAC and their supporters had not held EON to account and delayed their plans, highlighting the flaws in their application, the turbines would have been erected 2 years ago and recent government policies would have come too late to help us.
There are so many people to thank but on behalf of TICTAC, I especially want to thank the people of Newton Aycliffe and surrounding communities who supported us. If you came to one of our meetings or our exhibitions. If you helped us out financially or did some work for us. If you put a poster up in your window. Thank you.
I should also mention Phil Wilson and the many councillors who supported us. Thanks to all of you, we have stopped the vandalism of an historic landscape. We have protected both the wildlife of the area and the health of residents who would have had to endure the effects of flicker and noise. We have also kept our roads safer from the huge amount of construction traffic and massive loads that were going to be needed to build the turbines.
This campaign was always about protecting the communities surrounding the Isles and focussed on why it was the wrong place to build turbines. From the outset Eon behaved as if this application was a done deal and that any objections from those affected were irrelevant. They underestimated the people of this County and I am very proud to say that they were proved completely wrong.
Susan Fox

wind farm