Welcome to the website of DBJRG (Den Brook Judicial Review Group)
Join Us! Any voluntary work, big or small is very welcome. Anything from leafleting and speaking to local people or fundraising with help. New ideas also welcome. Contact details below.
We are a group of local residents from Spreyton, North Tawton and Bow who are very concerned about the proposed Den Brook Wind Farm that Renewable Energy Systems (RES) want to erect very close to our homes and businesses. We believe:
- There is real danger of a serious noise nuisance and RES are brushing this under the carpet.
- RES has not shown that this wind farm will benefit the general taxpayer. The "green" value of the site has not been demonstrated.
- The concerns and rights of local people are being pushed aside in the stampede to meet government targets by means of the significant financial rewards put in place for developers such as RES.
NEWS UPDATE 19th April 2009
PUBLIC INQUIRY - 23 July 2009 for 6 days with Inspector Pykett.
The Inquiry is planned to open at 10.00 at Okehampton College Gym, Okehampton College, Mill Road, Okehampton EX20 1PW*.
A PIM (Pre Inquiry Meeting) is to take place on 01/06/2009 at Spreyton Village Hall, starting at 10am. At the PIM, DBJRG, West Devon Borough Council and RES, the developers will be discussing with the Inspector, the most appropriate way to run the Inquiry. Member of the public are welcome to attend. DBJRG will be represented by our barrister.
Mike Hulme of DBJRG, and our experts have now spent many hours examining the new information RES has supplied in support of their application for the wind farm. There is clear and unequivocal evidence that the noise from the turbines could extend far further than RES predicted when they first applied for planning permission, meaning that many more local people and properties are likely to suffer noise pollution.
RES themselves now acknowledge that their earlier predictions are no longer accurate. It is clear that RES' latest predictions are yet again fundamentally flawed and continue to seriously understate the noise problems. Even the professional body which represents this country's acousticians, the Institute of Acousticians, is currently reviewing the way in which acousticians working on behalf of developers such as RES have repeatedly under predicted noise impacts from wind farms over past years.
DBJRG will also be providing evidence at the Inquiry and the PIM regarding the impact the windfarm will have our our landscape and surroundings. More details will follow.
*Disabled people who may be concerned about facilities at the inquiry should write to the venue or contact WDBC.
NEWS UPDATE ....... 03 APR 2009.
RES have now supplied some new Environmental Impact data and information . We do not yet know how complete it is as it has been supplied in an unwieldy and difficult to access format.
Everyone is welcome to consult the information which is on display at Bow Londis Stores and North Tawton post office. Be warned, it is very cumbersome to consult!
We have asked RES to publicise the information in way that will mean people can actually use it but do not know how or whether they will respond.
We are pleased to report that 2 recent Windfarm applications have been turned down by the Inspector. The Shipdham case is particularly favourable to us as it recognises some of the noise issues that are relevant to Den Brook Valley. Here are the judgements:
PUBLIC INQUIRY POSTPONED - WAS MARCH 2009, NEW DATE UNKNOWN
Some of you may have received notice from WDBC notifying postponement of the Den Brook wind farm Inquiry which was due to take place on 10/03/2009.
The postponement results from letters submitted to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) made by the Den Brook Judicial Review Group (DBJRG) together with many from supporters - it's encouraging that our combined voices are effective against the might of corporate and Government organisations!
Our view is that the Inquiry cannot take place until we have received all the noise and other data we need from the developers, RES. We understand that they are undertaking new tests. DBJRG has also requested further information we believe we need to assess noise and other issues prior to the Inquiry.
The new data requested includes all the anemometry wind speed data and associated information that is essential for accurate evaluation of the proposed wind farm and its likely noise and other impacts. Only very recently, for example, have the wind farm developers reluctantly acknowledged that CO2 savings from wind farms are only half [430g rather than 860g CO2/kWh] that previously claimed. Is there any wonder that we are concerned about the truthfulness of information provided by the developers?
We requested the extra data in early November last year and although RES indicated they would let us know by the end of that month, we have still not received any further notification or the information requested.
You may recall that RES previously denied access to the noise data for more than 3 years. When it was eventually released following our High Court action, the noise data assessment turned out to be significantly flawed. Planning permission for the Den Brook wind farm was subsequently and rightly quashed by a Court of Appeal Consent Order and sent back to PINS for re-determination.
Continuing our endeavours to uphold local democracy and establish a level playing field for the forthcoming Public Inquiry (possibly later this year) requires an enormous amount of voluntary work from core members of the DBJRG. We would welcome any help you feel able to give.
DBJRG have engaged the most experienced professional expertise to ensure our case is assessed and put forward in the best possible way. Whilst enormously thankful for all your ongoing support, please, if you are able, continue to donate whatever you can. Our efforts must continue in order to challenge shortfalls within the developer's assessments and ensure the 9 x 125 meter-high turbines are not unreasonably foisted on our currently tranquil local environment without a full and proper evaluation of the known detrimental impacts.
Thank you for your continued support.
Den Brook Judicial Review Group
What Can You Do?
- Join Us! Any voluntary work, big or small is very welcome. Anything from leafleting and speaking to local people or fundraising with help. New ideas also welcome. Contact details below.
- Give Generously!We are a local community group without a lot of funds compared to the enormous resources of RES. It may take months before RES pay the legal costs from the case we have just won and we need to fund professional help now.
- Write to the Developers! You are free to ask any questions you want, to say whether and/or why you are against the Wind Farm, or ask for information relating to your home. Helen Hall, RES UK & Ireland Ltd, Beaufort Court, Egg Farm Lane, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, WD4 8LR T: 01923 299267
This is our last opportunity as a community to put our views. So call us or email now to find out more:
Email the DBJRG team at: info@denbrookvalley.co.uk
Nick Jewell (Treasurer and lives in Spreyton) 01647 231553
Mike Hulme (in charge of the noise issue) 01363 82220
Richard Turner (in charge of local campaigning) 01363 82876
Claire Hodgson (lives in Bow) 01363 881174
Ruth Harvey (lives in North Tawton) 01837 82838