Village: why we aren’t ‘Nimbys’ (From York Press)
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Copmanthorpe Wind Farm Action Group aims to counter allegations of “Nimbyism”
8:36am Friday 10th February 2012 in News
Graham Auton
AN action group which battled to stop a wind farm being built near Copmanthorpe is to hold an exhibition of green initiatives.
Last summer, Copmanthorpe Wind Farm Action Group celebrated after York councillors rejected plans to build a 70-metre mast near the village.
It now aims to counter allegations of “Nimbyism” by organising a public exhibition of ways in which the village can reduce its carbon footprint.
The committee, which is being supported by Copmanthorpe Parish Council, aims to find out which initiatives local people would like to see in the village by holding an exhibition of numerous stalls covering a variety of technologies and activities at Copmanthorpe Methodist Church on February 25, from 10am to 4pm.
Graham Auton, vice-chairman of the group, said: “The whole affair last year served to galvanise the residents of Copmanthorpe and the surrounding villages. More than 95 per cent of residents were opposed to the development, for very good reason.
“We were often criticised as being ‘Nimbys’, which we always felt was unfair, as we were in favour of energy conservation and carbon reduction.
“Once our campaign slowed down, we decided that we should capitalise on the community spirit and in turn demonstrate our green credentials to those who so readily criticised our campaign. We have put an awful lot of effort into organising this and I want to try to get as many people along as possible to raise awareness and have an enjoyable time.”
The Village Green exhibition is open to everyone but particularly villagers from Askham Bryan and Askham Richard.
Stalls will include solar panel advisers, environmental group York Rotters and the Energy Saving Trust.
The mast plan could have seen the construction of a “test mast” which would have collected data to be used in a further planning application for a full wind farm.
However, the application was thrown out on the grounds it was inappropriate for a green belt and would be detrimental to the area because of its height, design and its effect on the visual amenity of the Copmanthorpe area and the “historical character of York”.
Comments(14)
xtc
says...
8:58am Fri 10 Feb 12
Mr Udigawa
says...
12:20pm Fri 10 Feb 12
pedalling paul wrote:I hope they coem to the most sensible cost effective solution. Try stopping, looking and then crossing, it works for me & several others on our ride along this particular path to and from Tad, or do we want to dumb down cycling to a level where nobody has to think of anything or take responsibility for their own safety? The latter is a good way of creating a new generation of cycling morons.
The village now has an A64 underpass and a dedicated cycle link into York. The new Askham Bar P&R will include bike and ride facilities for those who don't want to pedal right into York. But half a mo...the new P&R access road including two slip roads, is set to slice across the cycle path into York. Hope that Copmanthorpe Parish Council have been consulted on this, and that they along with Graham & co will lobby for a better engineered solution.
bpk68
says...
12:38pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Erm...yeah, by definition a 'nimby' is an individual, or group who usually are all for something, so long as it doesn't interfere with their daily life, or happen near their homes....
Now, their own decisions for opposing the wind farms aside, you can't say 'Ooo, we're all for energy saving and that nonsense about carbon' then oppose the plans and then complain when people accusing you of being the very thing you appear to be can you?!
Sorry, just being pedantic because let's face it, it's Friday and isn't yet time for the weekend to begin...
meme
says...
4:31pm Fri 10 Feb 12
I dont agree with your argument and think they should have been approved but dont criticize you for fighting your position
R'Marcus
says...
4:41pm Fri 10 Feb 12
Long live the Wind Farm Action Group.
You are heros.
newscritic
says...
6:13pm Fri 10 Feb 12
And they would reject such windmills for the same reasons the people of Copmanthorpe are.
Windmills will not go away but please stop insulting peoples intelligence by trying to force them literally into back gardens. There is a place for these things but it certainly is not near housing.
C3PO=PCSO
says...
6:16pm Fri 10 Feb 12
ly I find wind turbines in a rural landscape a magnificent juxtaposition and visually appealing.
Anyway, Copmanthorpe seems to be full of old codgers and dog ****....
oscarthedog
says...
8:39pm Fri 10 Feb 12
C3PO=PCSO wrote:What a plonker. In any case, the aesthetics of wind turbines is irrelevant do some research C3PO...they are the most inefficient, costly renewable technology ever devised. I certainly wouldn't invest my money in a system which works at best 20% of the time and depends on power statios to cover the shortfall in electicity. Without the subsidies the developers would not be seen for dust. Anyway, if you are happy paying towards that obscene subsidy, fine.
Just NIMBYS......personal ly I find wind turbines in a rural landscape a magnificent juxtaposition and visually appealing. Anyway, Copmanthorpe seems to be full of old codgers and dog ****....
I think Graham and his team are to be applauded for getting off their backsides and doing something positive to raise awareness about conserving energy...I wonder, what have YOU done today to make you feel proud??
C3PO=PCSO
says...
2:35pm Sat 11 Feb 12
newscritic
says...
10:22pm Sat 11 Feb 12
C3PO=PCSO wrote:They won though didn't they?
NIMBYS NMBYS NIMBYS with too much time on their hands.....
C3PO=PCSO
says...
1:12pm Sun 12 Feb 12
Magicman!
says...
2:33am Tue 14 Feb 12
retribution
says...
11:56am Wed 29 Feb 12
Now that planning permission was granted for the wheel monstrosity near York railway station, it opens the floodgates for wind turbines within the centre of York ...
...Now let me think...along the Ouse right out to Rawcliffe and Bishopthorpe..and a few dotted around the Knavesmire...perhaps one in the middle of Cliffords Tower?
I'm sure BanksRenewables would be happy to blight the city.
pedalling paul says...
8:43am Fri 10 Feb 12
But half a mo...the new P&R access road including two slip roads, is set to slice across the cycle path into York. Hope that Copmanthorpe Parish Council have been consulted on this, and that they along with Graham & co will lobby for a better engineered solution.