“YOUR COUNTRYSIDE, YOUR CHOICE”

- The Impact of Land-based Wind Energy Schemes
 on the British Countryside

A One-Day Conference

Saddleworth, Yorkshire

The Civic Hall, Lee Street, Uppermill, Saddleworth, Yorkshire  OL3 6AE

Saturday June 19^th 2004 

10.00am to 5.00 pm

The combined forces of the Government, their many agencies, the Wind Power Industry, their lobby groups and large sections of the Green movement are vigorously promoting the adoption of land based wind turbines across the UK.  The British public are being asked to sacrifice the peace and tranquillity of the open countryside, in many cases countryside of high scenic value, in the pursuit of clean, green energy.  The Government is also resolutely intent on weakening planning guidelines to permit the more rapid approval of controversial wind turbine schemes.

This conference is aimed at providing a forum for the many small groups across the country that are opposing such schemes.  It will provide an opportunity to come together, share experiences, hear counter arguments from experts in their field, and discuss how effective opposition can best be co-ordinated both nationally and regionally.

The conference is hosted by the Saddleworth Moors Action Group in association with  Country Guardian, the national organisation formed to resist the destruction of the British countryside by wind turbines.

Organised by

 Saddleworth Moors Action Group in Association with Country Guardian

Saddleworth Civic Hall

Lee Street, Uppermill, Saddleworth, Yorkshire  OL3 6AE

Saturday  June 19^th 2004 

10.00am to 5.00 pm

Programme

10.00 - 10.30  - Registration

10.30 - 11.15 - Opening Speech - David Bellamy

11.15 - 11.30  - Coffee

11.30 - 1.00   3  Parallel Tracks

(Three 20 minute talks plus 10 minutes Q & A)

Track  A - Beginners Guide to Campaigning

v    Why the Drive for Wind ?-   Dr Mike Hall

Government White Paper & Policy

v    Cutting Through the Jargon -  Geoffrey Sinclair

Guide to the Planning System & how to object.

v    How to run a successful Campaign - Cllr Ken Hulme

Track B - Cutting Through the Spin

v    The European Experience - Dr Vic Mason & Angela Kelly

Denmark / Germany

v    Health Implications Dr David Manley

Low Frequency etc

v    Impact on Environment  & Landscape - Dr Kaye Little

Track C - Positive Alternatives to Wind

v    Are Wind Turbines Green ?  - David Bellamy

v    Green alternatives to Wind Turbines - Dr Richard Courtney

v    Does the UK have a viable Energy Policy ?  - Sir Bernard Ingham

1.00 to  2.00 pm Lunch

Afternoon Session

2.00 - 2.45  - PPS 22  and its implications

Geoffrey Sinclair

2.45 - 3.00 pm Coffee

3.00 - 4.30  Campaigning Case Studies

Learning from Successful and less successful campaigns

An opportunity for local campaigns to share experiences

Contributors include David Brierley from MAIWAG and Elizabeth Mann

4.30 - 5.00  Closing Speech - Sir Bernard Ingham

Conference Fee £5.00  plus £2.50 for light lunch  

For Further information contact:

Saddleworth Moors Action Group

C/O Ken Hulme

28 Sevenacres

Delph

Saddleworth

Yorkshire

OL3 5HU

Tel  01457 872859

Email  kenhulme@waitrose.com

Website  www.noturbinesin.saddleworth.net

Organised by Saddleworth Moors Action Group in Association with Country Guardian

Saddleworth Civic Hall

Lee Street, Uppermill, Saddleworth, Yorkshire  OL3 6AE

Saturday  June 19^th 2004 

10.00am to 5.00 pm

Contributors include:

Professor David Bellamy leading environmentalist ,broadcaster and President of the Wildlife Trusts of the UK

Sir Bernard Ingham was the Head of the Department of Energy's first Conservation Division which included responsibility for the development of renewable sources of energy.

Dr Richard Courtney  internationally recognised expert on Energy and climate change. In June 2000 he was one of 15 scientists invited from around the world to give a briefing on climate change at the US Congress.

Dr Mike Hall  Vice Chair of Fells  Friends of Eden, Lakeland & Lunesdale Scenery

Dr David Manley   a  scientist and leading authority on Low Frequency Noise.

Dr Vic Mason author of 'The Danish Dilemma' a study of wind energy in Denmark

Dr Kaye Little FRCR  Editor of 'The Battle for Cefn Croes' a leading campaigner against commercial wind turbines.

Geoffrey Sinclair  is a planning consultant who has fought some 100 windfarm applications

Angela Kelly  is Chairman of Country Guardian

David Brierly & Les Nichols are leading campaigners in MAIWAG the Cumbria Wind Farm campaign.

Elizabeth Mann is author of 'Force 10' a book which examines the dubious tactics of the Wind Energy Industry

Cllr Ken Hulme is a Saddleworth Parish Councillor and Publicity Officer for Saddleworth Moors Action Group