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Chipping village guards a special environment
Large scale wind turbines and ‘fracking’ or shale gas extraction have been given a definite environmental thumbs down by a village community.
Two months ago, Chipping parish council reviewed the 2011 Chipping Village Plan after consultations with the community had resulted in the need to alter parts on green matters.
This covers the environmental impact of both controversial energy sources on the village and its wider area.
Following the review and decisions on the proposed changes, the parish council reported that the existing Village Plan includes the following paragraph:
“There were mixed opinions during consultation regarding wind turbines; however, the majority preference is that turbines should not be sited in the settlement area or within direct view of the village.
“The proposal is to change this to read: ‘there were mixed opinions during consultation regarding wind turbines; however, the majority preference is that large-scale wind turbines should not be sited within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and hence not within or visible from the village.”
This change was in response to the weight of public opinion demonstrated when an application was made for a 40m wind turbine in the parish. On the village’s fracking concerns, the council states: “It is also proposed that the following paragraph is added to Section 13 – Environmental Impact: ‘shale gas extraction by rock fracturing (‘fracking’) should not be permitted within the AONB (or extending into/under the AONB) due to the visual impact of well heads, increase in heavy goods traffic servicing sites and the potential impact to water supplies, wildlife and farming.’”
This was added because the process of fracking was not considered when the plan was originally formulated two years ago.
The council is now looking for feedback from the community before the plan is formally updated at the end of March. Responses can go to parish clerk Barbara Green or Brabin’s Shop.
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Weather for Longridge
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South west
