The proposed development by Enertrag at Tivetshall St Mary is located under 2km away from that proposed on the Vaunces Farm site at Pulham / Semere Green, since adopted by TCI Renewables Ltd.  That is despite recommendations that windfarms should not be built closer than 5km from another as confirmed in a letter of October 2009 from Enertrag's own then project manager, Mr David Linley, relative to a further scheme proposed by Bernard Matthews close to Enertrag's existing turbine developemtn at North Pickenham, Norfolk.

It would appear these developers cherrypick the rules and recommendations as they feel suits their own particular needs.  If 5km is the limit for Pickenham then why are they building within 2km at Tivetshall?

South Norfolk Sites completed or earmarked for windfarm development

The Vaunces Farm site was refused both by SNDC and at appeal by the Planning Inspector.  Despite this, TCI are mounting another attack on the same site in early 2013, with the same turbines but configured closer together - they say to mitigate objections made and upheld at appeal.  We see no difference whatever, and the local community will continue to fight against the development.

Another seven-turbine development was refused at appeal just outside the village of Hempnall, but we understand a smaller four-turbine development with turbines of 125m in height and with rotors of 90m diameter is to be lodged with planners during 2011 in another attempt by Enertrag to develop this site, which will again raise robust objection from the local population represented by SHOWT.  This development proposal has since been taken over by TCI renewables and they tell us that they will be submitting a fresh application in January 2013.

A further two turbine development has been approved by Suffolk County Council south of Tivetshall on land adjacent to Eye Airfield Industrial Estate alongside the A140 trunk road.  With civil engineering works completed the turbines are being erected now (21/01/2013)

Before long, anyone travelling into Norfolk via the A140 will be surrounded by turbines, should these be approved, as will be seen by reference to CPRE's map, and the A140 will be renamed "Turbine Alley".

More and more windfarm developments are being proposed throughout Norfolk and apart from the problems these present to local residents, there is the cummulative effect on the landscape also to consider.  It can be seen from the map provided above by The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) that these are starting to spread across the county rapidly, held back only by the level of objections preventing still further development.  There appears little legislation available to control this indescriminate spread of development apart from the planning process itself and government requirements dictate that these judgements be weighted in favour of development when measured agains their impact on the landscape and society they damage.

Apart from the visual damage to our valued landscape we must also consider the cummulative effect that an increasing number of separate turbine clusters will have on migrating bird species - we are all concerned about local issues and loss of wildlife but when multiplied over the numbers of turbines throughout the county this takes on greater proportions and only serves to increase our fears for the future balance of wildlife in the region.

On Friday 9th April 2010, 4V Action Group flew an air balloon to demonstrate the 125m height of turbines proposed at the adjacent TCI Renewables development at Semere Green / Dickleburgh.  This clearly shows just what an impact this development will have on surrounding villages, including the Tivetshalls.  The balloon, indicating the blade-tip height, was clearly visible from Crossing Cottage, Star Lane in the northwest of Tivetshall, Pulham roundabout to the north as well as all along the local A140, The Ram and houses along Ram Lane and Rectory Road, Tivetshall to the west and St Mary Church, New Road / Patten Lane further west.  The balloon was even apparent from as far as Gissing Bridge.

In July 2010, TAG recipricated by flying their own blimp at the 140m height proposed for Tivetshall's turbines.  This clearly demonstrated the distance over which these machines impact on the surrounding countryside.