The full planning application for the four wind turbines proposed for Berkeley Vale has now gone up on the Stroud District Council website. You can view it here:
We recommend you read it through carefully and begin thinking about how you might object, if you don't want them to ruin Berkeley Vale.
Please return to this website within the next few days, as we're going to be adding some really useful information to help you write an objection that will carry as much weight as possible. It must come from your heart to be effective, but there are a few tips to write a really powerful one that could make a difference.
Thank you - now it is time to really save Berkeley Vale.
Nymphsfield Mast Rejected
Good news - the planning inspectorate has rejected Ecotricity's appeal (REF: APP/C1625/A/10/2127129) against the installation of a 90m mast adjacent to the Nymphsfield Gliding Site on air safety grounds.
This marks the end of a long standing battle between Dale Vince and Stroud District Council over safely issues relating to the close proximity of this 90m mast to the airfield.
Ecotricity Propose Solar Panels
Ecotricity have recently submitted a “Request for an Initial Screening” document (663195.pdf and 663194.pdf) to Stroud District Council concerning the development of land behind the Prince of Wales Hotel as a solar panel park. The exact number of panels is, at this stage, unclear.
We will confirm our response to this news soon. What is your opinion? Please let us know by emailing
or click for our 'contact us' page.
Ecotricity Show - Our Response
Well the Ecotricity show of the year is over!
Following on from the Prince of Wales venue, the library two week display was a non-event. Few people I spoke to in Dursley were even aware of it. As for the Prince of Wales exhibition - it can only be summarized as the standard display of how insignificant the wind industry would like you to think that these 120m high monsters turbines are.
The photomontages on display were totally misleading, none showed any reference objects to give you any idea of scale. The photographs were too small with inadequate viewing distances for a public display. Who wants to stand less than 330mm to a display board to see its content?! In fact their quoted viewing distance was too big for the size of the image. It should have been nearer 220mm, based on an image 127mm high...!
The only useful purpose these Ecotricity photomontages serve is to show you the approximate position of the turbines in the landscape. As for the true scale of these monsters just look at the real life 70m high mast from along side Standle Lane or any where else you can see it and use this photograph (click!) to estimate what its true impact upon the landscape will be...
Mast/Turbine Comparison Photo
You've seen the mast , now see how it compares to just ONE TURBINE!
Click the image to see the full size version
Ecotricity claim that "This proposed development is not expected to have any significant impacts on any of the nearby conservation areas or their settings". This is just spin and bureau talk!
We live here and we will draw our own conclusions about the impact of this development on our environment. Take another look at that comparison between the mast and ONE TURBINE before you sign off, the evidence is simple common sense.
URGENT: Ecotricity change proposal and call meeting
Ecotricity have announced that the number of turbines on the Berkeley Vale Site is to be reduced from 8 to 4. The new locations are alongside the railway line. This increases the distance of the turbines from the ANOB, but they will still have an unacceptable effect on views into and out of the ANOB and conservation areas.
An exhibition of Ecotricity's proposals will be held on the 21st of May in the Prince of Wales Hotel and later in Dursley library from the Tuesday1st of June to Monday 14th of June from 12am to 7 pm.
Please make every effort to attend and make every effort to register your disapproval!
More information from us, regarding these updates, will follow soon.
Advertising Standards Authority hits Ecotricity
Dale Vince, the man behind Ecotricity and the turbines proposed for Berkeley Vale, has been slapped down by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for misrepresenting the truth in a direct-mail ad campaign.
The ASA says that "the ad breached CAP [Committee of Advertising Practice] Code clause 7.1 (Truthfulness) ... The ad must not appear again in its current form".
Ecotricity was picked up elsewhere recently when they said that "for every £1 you spend with us through your electricity bills we spend another £1 building new sources of green electricity... that's not a promise, it's a fact". In actuality this is only true if you spend a relatively small sum with Ecotricity (less than £460 in 2008, for instance). So it isn't really a fact as most people would understand the word.
Vince also made the headlines last year for publicly speculating that a UFO might have been responsible for a spectacular failure in one of his wind turbines which saw a 65-foot-long blade rip itself free of the hub and pinwheel away across the adjacent countryside.
In fact, of course, a routine mechanical failure was the cause and Vince later stated that he had been making “a pretty unpleasant experience a lot lighter”. It is clear to see that he was just clouding the fact that the Turbine could have done massive damage to the surrounding area and if that was to happen to the proposed Turbines in Berkeley Vale it could well claim the lives of villagers and visitors, not to mention cause untold damage on the motorway which they would be situated directly by.
This news from the ASA is a good sign that officially endorsed bodies are seeing the truth behind what Ecotricity say, and it is another example of how Ecotricity are twisting the facts to fit their own story.
There is a continuing need for vigilance and persistence in all matters, if we are to “Save Berkeley Vale” for future generations and ensure that effective and more appropriate sources of power are supported. Accordingly, the Save Berkeley Vale Group will continue to address this matter and liaise with those who share their concerns.
The extent of the consternation to the news of the initial proposal was evident in the outpouring of objections registered with the Stroud District Planning Office to the proposed monitoring mast, but this is only the first step. So your support will remain important until we have evidence and confirmation that all the plans for the Wind Turbine Park in this ill- chosen location have been dropped completely.
In recognition of this reality the Save Berkeley Vale Group has confirmed its commitment and determination to stand firm. To this end the Group has developed its organisational framework and will be seeking a broader base of support, whilst working to understand all the issues underpinning the proposal.
There are many professionals with considerable experience covering a wide range of disciplines living in the local area we will welcome any interested in helping us in such areas as Wind behavior, acoustics and health and safely, planning, ornithology etc. We also welcome support from anyone else who is able to contribute to this undertaking by contacting the website or a member of the Save Berkeley Vale Group
Sound Monitoring Equipment
Ecotricity are installing sound monitoring equipment around the proposed wind farm site, if you have been approached please contact us through the email link and do not agree to let them install anything on your property without first consulting members of the group.
If you know of any sound monitoring equipment or mysterious black boxes that have been installed anywhere within 1 mile radius of the proposed development then please let us know as soon as possible. Dog walkers, please keep a look out for anything unusual on your travels
Monitoring Mast Installed
Despite the welcome news on 13th October that Stroud District Development Control Committee had rejected the application for a monitoring test mast, Ecotricity subsequently submitted an appeal to the Secretary of State which they unfortunately won.
Ecotricity have now installed the mast and it can remain there for a maximum period of 18 months. After this time the mast must be completely removed from the site.
It is worth noting that the true height of these monster turbines can be judged from the height of the mast which is only 70m. The diameter of just one of the rotating turbine blades will be 80m i.e. bigger than the mast itself! The overall height of the turbine is nearly twice that of the existing mast (x1.7 mast height).
These turbines are truly monsters and must be fought.
Spread the word with a car sticker!
Please help spread the news of the Turbines by printing out one of these car stickers and putting it in your window. They also work well in the windows of your home or anywhere else that they will be noticed.
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