Traditionally, the county has often been divided into three parts: the Arden or ‘high land’ of the north-west, two plateau regions that reach a height of over 150 metres separated by a valley drained by the rivers Tame and Blythe. The soils are predominantly heavy and rather acidic, developed upon Mercia Mudstone, but with a surface layer of lighter glacial drift in places. To the east is the raised plateau of the East Warwickshire coalfield with coal-bearing rocks outcropping along its north-eastern margin. This region was more heavily wooded than areas to the south – the site of the supposed ‘Forest of Arden’. Historically, this was the least populated part of the county, a slowly evolving landscape of scattered farms and fields with many patches of woodland and common waste.

Quite different is the flat plain of the Feldon or ‘open land’ in the south of the county. A platform generally between 100 and 175 metres high, with heavy clay soils developed mainly on the Lower Lias, this was already an area of intensive crop cultivation in prehistoric and Roman times. It was later to be characterised by nucleated villages set amidst open field systems, some of the latter surviving until enclosure in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The higher margins, including the Edgehill Fringe along the south-eastern boundary of the county and the area along the north-eastern boundary, were areas of rather later development in which stock pasture played a more important role in early medieval and post-medieval times.

Between Arden and Feldon, the valley of the River Avon runs south-westwards across the middle of the county forming a transitional zone, with lighter gravel soils either side of the river. To the east, on the Dunsmore plateau, gravel deposits overlie the clays. The Avon valley was also an area of relatively early development and by medieval times market centres had developed for the exchange of goods from north and south.

Broadview Appeal Met Mast Decision

Source : stratford herald ( http://www.stratford-herald.com/mainstory.php?ID=2207)

Broadview Energy, the developer behind the proposed wind farm—between Knightcote and Bishops Itchington near junction 12 of the M40—plan to appeal afterbeing refused permission to put up a temporary anemometry mast on the proposed Starbold site after the planning committee chose to reject a recommendation from officers to approve the application.

The firm’s managing director, Jeff Corrigan, said: “It is very disappointing to be refused permission by such a narrow margin, especially after the council’s planning officers’ recommendation that the application should be granted. We now intend to appeal to the Secretary of State to review that decision.”

SDC REJECT APPLICATON FOR THE MET MAST – HOORAY!!

We are delighted to report  that the Planning Committee of Stratford District Council has rejected the application to erect a 60 metre high anemometer Mast. The views of the many local residents and visitors to Burton Dassett hills, who opposed the planning application, have been taken into account, as well as the arguments put forward by John Maples M.P. and Councillors Chris Kettle, Chairman of Bishops Itchington Parish Council and Chris Williams of Stratford District Council. FRAWT would like to thank everyone who took the initiative to oppose this planning application by writing to the Council and attending the Planning Committee meeting.

Resolute and determined action by local people has stopped this mast being erected.  This in turn has prevented 125 metre high wind turbines being built within 500 metres of people’s homes and has preserved the beautiful vista from the Burton Dassett hills for the enjoyment of the 60,000 visitors and people of Warwickshire.

NEW LOOK WEBSITE IS HERE!
Much work has been going on behind the scenes to ensure that the information we have is up-to-date and relevant. We have a new layout and will hopefully provide all the relevant information about wind turbines and why they are not appropriate as a renewable energy source. If you have any suggestions for the new website drop me a line here and I will try and incorporate them if I can.

STRATFORD DISTRICT COUNCIL ANNOUNCE DATE OF PLANNING MEETING
SDC have confirmed that the “Met Mast” planning application will be heard on 25th November at 6pm. The meeting will be held at the Council Chamber at SDC offices in Church Street, Stratford Upon Avon. Please come along! click here for details

INTERVIEW WITH PRESS
Frawt were recently interviewed by various news agencies.

PRIVATE MEMBERS BILL
Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff (Con) wants a buffer zone of at least 1.5 miles between homes and the largest turbines. Mr Luff will introduce a bill before parliament using the 10-minute rule procedure. The British Wind Energy Association says if it does become law it could kill many onshore wind farm plans. Click here for full article from BBC Politics Show 1 Nov 2009

1.       Tickets for entry in to the lottery will be priced at £5 each, which is payable monthly, by bankers standing order, to the FRAWT bank account. Club members may subscribe to more than one ticket each month.

2.       Payments which have not reached the FRAWT bank account by the 15^th of each month will not be eligible for that month’s draw.

3.       The draw will be made in public in the community, on the last Thursday of each month, the first draw taking place on Thursday 25^th February 2010.

4.       There will be 2 prizes given out each month. A first prize of 7% of the total monies received that month (up to a maximum of £350) and a second prize of 3% of the total received that month (up to a maximum of £150)

5.       The names of the winners will be published on the FRAWT website in the member’s area.

6.       Tickets may only be bought by persons over the age of 16

7.       The lottery is run by FRAWT and is in aid of funding the fight against the proposal for a wind turbine development in the Vale of Feldon. It will cease to run when FRAWT determine that their work against the development has ended and all Club members will then be advised.

8.       Club members may cancel their standing order payments at any time and they will then no longer be eligible for entry in the lottery draw.

9.       Should FRAWT have funds remaining in their bank account after the group has ended these will be made available for the general good of the communities that have supported FRAWT.

10.     The promoter is     Mrs B Hardman, (on behalf of FRAWT)

Lower Spring Farm, Bishops Itchington, CV47 2QX

Promotion code           GA05 SDC 550052

How Big is Big?

We understand that the turbines proposed for the Starbold site will be over 400ft tall.  These structures are huge.  To give you an indication of the height (they are nearly as tall as the London Eye).  These photographs show one of the FRAWT team – to scale – next to a turbine.

How does the Energy get from the Turbines to the Grid?

A good question.  This is not a part of the planning application and is usually a secondary application from the National Grid.  They have two options.  The most expensive is to bury the cables underground.  The most likely choice (but until application is put forward we cannot be sure) is for a string of pylons to blot the landscape even further.

Do not forget the collection of other equipment and buildings that will also be at the site:

Substation;
pylons;
possible Anemometer Mast:

and the deep foundations to support such structures in heavy clay in an area prone to flooding

How noisy are they?

Current planning regulations (ETSU-R-97) permit wind turbines to generate night-time noise at a level that disturbs restorative sleep (43dB)

Exceeds W.H.O recommended maximum level of night noise (38dB)

Aerodynamic Modulation (AM) – Pulsing sound caused by the interaction of multiple turbines, is more likely to disturb sleep than a constant noise

At Risk – Children, Elderly and Chronically Ill

Wind Turbine Syndrome

Numerous reports of symptoms of living in too close to turbines:

What is shadow flicker?

Shadow flicker occurs  when the sun passes behind the hub of a wind turbine and casts a shadow over neighbouring properties. When the blades rotate, shadows pass over the same point causing an effect called ‘shadow flicker’. Shadow flicker effects occur in various situations: travelling by road through a tunnel or under overhanging trees (dappled shadow effects), or standing within the shadowed area of wind turbine blades. Shadow flicker within houses occurs if a wind turbine is close enough to and of a specific orientation with, a nearby house.

If you are still not sure what shadow flicker will look like go here for an example of  shadow flicker -  or  to our videos page

Shadow Flicker from the proposed Starbold site (Knightcote)

To the best of our knowledge, and based on where we believe the turbines will be sited, we have created a file showing where the shadow flicker will appear at certain times of the day.  You will notice how close to the site these properties are.  Most of Europe has set-back distances from turbines of 2km – England has no law on the set back distances of turbines from residential properties.

Shadow Flicker 1:

This would have been the shadow flicker effect on 21st June 2009 at 8am the shadows are towards Knightcote

Shadow Flicker 2:

Same Scenario but with sound

Shadow Flicker 3

This would be the shadow flicker at 9am in February 2009. The shadows are towards Lower Spring Farm

Shadow Flicker 4

This would be the shadow flicker at 6am in June 2009.  The shadows are towards Northend and the M40

Details of the pictures:

Movie          Date     Time  Daylight Savings    Place       Sound        Description

—–          —-     —-  —————-    —–       —–        ———–

Shadow Flicker 00  21/06/09  08:00        True        Manchester     None    Shadows towards Knightcote.

Shadow Flicker 02  21/06/09  08:00        True        Manchester   Turbines  = “Shadow Flicker 00″ + sound.

Shadow Flicker 03  20/02/09  08:57        True          London     Turbines  Shadow incident on Upper Spring Farm.

Shadow Flicker 04  20/06/09  05:49        True          London     Turbines  Shadow incident on M40 and road to Northend.

Wind Fact Sheet #4 – Shadow Flicker -click here to download the PDF