Policy FB12 - Land south of Upper Wilting Farm

Wind farms are not as good as they seem.This area is not suitable due to location and height asl. There is a great detrimental risk for all of the protected and unprotected flying birds and mammals, which does not seem to have been taken into account.
Solar power placed on any property will be much more environmentally friendly without any danger to wildlife.

Please put this 'proposal' in the folder marked trash along with the industrial /commercial units built/planned along the Queensway and the Link Road - the reason being is that none will achieve any worthwhile success apart from the irreversable destruction of natural habitats. Please feel free to measure my words against the actual outcome of the above projects.

I wish to register my total opposition to the siting of a wind farm near to Upper Wilting Farm. I live in Crowhurst and feel besieged by planning applications and developments. The Link Road supported by HBC, the sale of land on the Queensway to create more development, the empty industrial units on the Queensway, the gypsy site which everyone expects to be expanded on to the area currently occupied by the caravans and site offices of the Link Road builders. If ever an area is affected by cumulative development it is Crowhurst and Upper Wilting.

In November last year Mr Pickles, the Local Government Minister, said: We are making sure local people have a crystal clear voice in airing their opinions on wind turbines very early on. From day 1, communities should be centre stage in crafting plans that affect their lives instead of having them forced upon them." Following that, in December 2013, Section 122 Localism Act 2011 came into force. This introduces a duty to consult with the local community before making a planning application for wind turbine developments that involve the installation of more than two turbines. These new provisions are incorporated into section 61 Town and Country Planning Act 1990. There is a requirement to bring the proposed application to the attention of the majority of persons who live at, or otherwise occupy, premises in the vicinity of the land to be developed. It is also required to give such information about the proposed timetable for the consultation as is sufficient to ensure that anyone wishing to comment, may do so in good time." I don't remember being consulted and I live in the affected area whereas 99% of those living within the boundary of the Borough Council do not.


In 'Planning Practice guidance for renewable and low carbon energy' mention is made of areas where there is a cumulative impact. I would be interested to know what action has been taken in regard to this.

It makes a nonsense of the creation of a wetland area and countrywide park when that same area is to have the constant whine of the link road traffic and the same accompanying of wind turbines.

Crowhurst is the gateway to the countryside for many people living in Hastings. It is an area that is an informal recreation and play area for the town, yet HBC seems to be intent on destroying the area with speculative development.

See attached -
Name: Natural England
Submission dated 09.04.14 covering Reps 5882-5886

It has come to Parish Council's attention that the above submission contains a proposed development of wind turbines on land south of Upper Wilting Farm. Parish Council is very disappointed that Hastings Borough Council did not have the courtesy to inform a adjacent authority of this. It is hoped that Parish Council will be notified when any future consultation is planned.

Parish Council strongly disagrees with this proposal and would wish to see it removed from the submission. It is inconceivable that a feasibility study should show that 'the construction of wind turbines in this location is feasible ...'

The proposed development will:-
* have a severely detrimental effect on migrating birds, bats, other local wildlife and wetlands;
* increase the intrusion of noise pollution, already affected by the construction of the Link Road;
* border the Combe Valley Countryside Park, an SSSI protected site;
* increase flood risk in an already vulnerable area.

Parish Council urges you to reconsider this proposal and remove it from the Development Management Plan.

I object to Policy FB12 on the grounds it does not meet the principle outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework March 2012, Section 11 'Conserving and Enhancing the Natural Environment' paragraph 118 which details the considerations for 'land within or outside a Site of Special Scientific Interest'. I enclose a copy of the Desktop Biodiversity Report on Upper Wilting Farm, East Sussex ESD/07/421. I would also like to bring to the attention of the Examiner that on the proposed site there has been a breeding programme for Barn Owls which has been monitored by staff from Hastings Borough Council.

I would like to register a strong objection to any installation of wind turbines in this sensitive area, the link road has decimated it, now you plan to add to the ruin with these expensive and inefficient icons to sustainability box-ticking. No thanks.

I am objecting to the proposed Wind Farm FB12 at Upper Wilting Farm.

I do not believe this is a sound proposal as this is a very environmentally sensitive area and of profound archaeological importance. A wind farm would be harmful for biodiversity especially as it is a place where a number of rare birds reside and an important migratory passage, including for rare and endangered species of birds, and would constitute a threat to many bats in the area. (this would mean that the turbines couldn't work at certain times). The site chosen is directly adjacent to an important protected SSI. It is also the case that windfarms benefit from being sited at the brow of a hill yet this development is planned for a valley.

I also believe that this development is not compliant with the law.This study was undertaken with no regard to the legislation that requires a pre-application duty to consult for wind turbines. On the 17th December 2013, Section 122 Localism Act 2011 commenced. This introduces a duty to consult with the local community before making a planning application for wind turbine developments that involve the installation of more than two turbines. These new provisions are incorporated into section 61 Town and Country Planning Act 1990. There is a requirement to bring the proposed application to the attention of the majority of persons who live at, or otherwise occupy, premises in the vicinity of the land to be developed. It is also required to give such information about the proposed timetable for the consultation as is sufficient to ensure that anyone wishing to comment, may do so in good time.

This has not been done, people living in close proximity have not been informed. I and others take this matter very seriously and I would be appreciative of your comments before I take this matter further with all relevant authorities, political representatives and other interested parties.

See attached.
Name: Rother District Council
Submission received 22.04.14 covering Reps 9612-9619 inclusive.

I strongly object to the proposals for a 12 acre site of wind turbines proposed at Upper Wilting Farm. We who live in the area have not been informed as we should have been under Section 61 Town & Country Planning Act 1990. I have lived in Crowhurst for over 30 years and can see the countryside and farms being destroyed before my eyes, what with the Link Road, and now wind turbines in a valley which does not make any sense at all.