Shailesh Vara MP has written Mr Simon Ridley, the Chief Executive of the Planning Inspectorate, following an appeal by Hamerton Zoo Park to the Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local Government for permission to build two further wind turbines at the Zoo Park.

 

Mr Vara is concerned that the time period for members of the public to make their submissions (5 weeks from 24th July 2015) is during the peak holiday season and he has asked for an extension to this timeframe. Moreover, Mr Vara has made clear that although the consultation period commenced on 24th July, local residents only received notification of this on 5th August 2015, nearly 2 weeks already into the consultation period.

 

The appeal by Hamerton Zoo Park follows a decision by Huntingdonshire District Council to turn down an application for two 50 kW turbines with a hub height of 36.4m and height to the tip of 46m.

 

Mr Vara said: - 

 

“This application is hugely unpopular locally and the original application was rightly turned down by Huntingdonshire District Council. Hamerton Zoo Park is entitled to make an appeal but in the interests of fairness, members of the public should have a proper opportunity to make their submissions and to be told they have a 5 week period to do so during the peak holiday season is simply not right. Nor is it right that residents were informed of the consultation nearly 2 weeks after the consultation period had started. I hope common sense will prevail and there will be a suitable additional period allowed for the public to make their views known.”

 

Mrs Fiona Anderson, Chairman of Hamerton & Steeple Gidding Parish Council added:

 

“The Parish has made its views very clear about this proposed development and is sure that Huntingdonshire District Council’s decision to reject the original application was the right one. This small village is in a peaceful and beautiful part of the Northern Wolds with rare species, including Red Kites, two listed Churches and a medieval settlement and views are already dominated by the Woolley Hill turbines as well as the existing ones at the Zoo. HDC turned down the application as they recognised their cumulative impact on the landscape and the lack of a full ecological assessment for the site. We hope the Secretary of State will respect the views of local people.”