Marden farmer Peter Hall and Wind Direct, financially backed by HgCapital, are proposing to put a 127m high third generation wind turbine right in the middle of this beautiful countryside.

We are all very concerned about climate change but expensive, inefficient, over-subsidised on-shore wind turbines, in the heart of rural countryside, are not the solution and the energy they produce is not worth the damage to the landscape. This project is particularly reprehensible because of the number of dwellings within close proximity. We all need to support those whose lives will be blighted by this.

Any farmer running a business in this country, who wants to promote renewable energy, can do that in a matter of minutes by switching to green energy with their supplier, at no additional cost. Don’t be fooled by the farmer’s claims that this is being done for the environment, grand-children etc. It is being done for the financial return. The Kent Messenger’s report of 3 August, 2006 said “ He (Peter Hall) was prompted by energy costs in his pack-house and cold store which are £20,000 a year and rising”. The farmer’s motivation for personal financial gain should therefore be weighed up against the impact the project has on his neighbours and the surrounding countryside. His neighbouring farmers are united in their opposition.

HgCapital, who will own the turbine, tell us that “they will continue to act in the interests of their clients” In other words, hang everyone else. The operational wind farm they already have with Wind Direct is incredibly lucrative. For a capital investment of £3.8million the gross revenue run rate is £1.2million per annum and this could continue for over 20 years! Half their revenue comes from the ROC subsidy which we all pay for through higher electricity prices!

The site of the proposed turbine, just outside Marden, is on the banks of the River Teise, in the beautiful Teise Valley . The landscape has been protected from development and looks much as it must have done centuries ago. It is also a haven for wild life; otters have just returned after 40 years, barn owls are breeding very successfully and hunt up and down the river banks and kingfishers are plentiful.

In normal circumstances the suggestion that a massive structure higher than St Paul 's Cathedral could be put in this landscape would have been dismissed as totally absurd. Not any more. Planners and many parish councillors and county councillors are losing all sense of perspective and responsibility and are quite happy to give serious consideration to irresponsible schemes such as these. 

If this outrageous project were to succeed it would be the thin end of a very thick wedge. It is unquestionable that the Low Weald of Kent would be immediately opened up to a rash of further applications and the Weald of Kent would be irreparably ruined. The turbines would be clearly visible across the neighbouring AONB, the High Weald and all the Low Weald. A beautiful landscape would disappear.

The closer you live to Marden the more likely it is your property value will be impacted and house sales are already being affected.

We have to fight this at all costs. If you want to support us please email us at the following address contact@kwag.co.uk giving us your name and location. Make sure you and any other adults in your household write in to Maidstone Borough Council opposing this. Details are on the Campaign News page.

Please also start lobbying your MP and parish and county councillors to make sure we can stop this happening.