News
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
The RSPB, Wind Farms and the Bleak House Proposal
Plans have been drawn up to build the first wind farm in the West Midlands on the site of a former colliery. Developers want to put up six wind turbines at Bleak House, close to the edge of Cannock Chase in Staffordshire.
The position of the RSPB with respect to wind farms is stated as follows.
"While we strongly support the sustainable development of wind power we will object to wind farm proposals where:
· Environmental assessment has been inadequate, pending full assessment
· Where assessment reveals potential problems
· Where there is insufficient information to conclude that development will not threaten bird interest
We recognise that wind farm proposals can generate strong feelings because of their visual impact. However, because visual impacts do not have any effect on bird populations, the RSPB is not able to comment on this issue."
With respect to the Bleak House proposal, the developers first consulted the RSPB before the planning application was made. The Society requested extra survey work to check the risk of collision of birds with the turbines. Based on the survey results and their experience of nightjar behaviour, the Society decided that the risk of harm to the Cannock Chase nightjar population was likely to be low and an objection could not have been sustained on this basis. They also felt that the risk to passerine species such as willow warbler and grasshopper warbler at a population level was low to negligible.
The Society asked to be invited to comment on a proposed habitat management plan for the area which is being drawn up by the applicant.
If any RSPB member has any follow-up questions about this or any other development issue, please contact the Planning Officer, RSPB Midlands Region at colin.wilkinson@rspb.org.uk.