11 July 2011
Minutes from our first Annual General Meeting released
The main points discussed at the meeting were:
- The approval of the accounts to 31 March 2011, which showed income of £17,300, expenditure of £1,900, and available funds of £15,400
- The election of committee members
- A report on recent contact with Volkswind
Full minutes of the meeting are available on the website here.
If you haven't signed up as a full Member yet, please read on for details.
11 July 2011
Membership of the Action Group
The Action Group has now been established as an 'unincorporated association' with an official constitution and membership.
In order to give the group a formal structure covering, among other things, the control of what will be substantial funds and the appointment of a committee with responsibility for those funds, we decided that anyone donating more than £1 should automatically become a member with a right to vote at members' meetings.
This is so that those who have made a specific financial commitment can have a specific say on the composition of the Committee, and how the Action Group is managed.
However, general supporters and the public are all welcome to attend members' meetings; but unless they are donors they will be unable to vote.
We will let all registered supporters know of any future meetings by email, but in practice, unless there is any special formal business, such meetings will simply be the Annual General Meeting in June each year.
The papers relating to members' meetings will be published on the website. Under the constitution, members have a right to inquire about the Action Group's finances at any time during the year and newsletters and fundraising events will be an opportunity to let our general supporters know how things are going financially.
There will continue to be more general Public Meetings as circumstances require, which will be notified to all eight villages by leaflet, as well as by email to registered supporters. There will also continue to be occasional newsletters to all the villages.
So, please note, to become a full member of the Action Group, which will give you the vote at our Annual General Meetings (AGMs), you need to donate more than £1 in your name.
By doing this, you will automatically receive the agendas and minutes of the official Action Group meetings and you will have one vote on matters voted upon in general and special meetings of members.
To find out more about membership of the Action Group, here.
11 July 2011
Not donated yet? Here's how...
So far, we have raised £17,300, but it is estimated that it could cost up to £78,000 to fight these proposals, so much more needs to be done.
We will be organising fundraising activities throughout the year, but if you would like to make a donation in the meantime, you can do so using the following methods:
Please make cheques payable to 'Heydon Grange Action Group' and send to
The Treasurer,
Heydon Grange Action Group,
Bridgefoot Farmhouse,
Barley Road,
Heydon,
Royston
SG8 7PU
Direct transfer to our Bank Account:
Santander
Account Number 75536994
Sort Code 09-01-27
Please note, it is important that you include your own name as a reference in the transfer. At the end of the campaign, we will be redistributing any monies left over, so if you donate over £50 some of the money you donate will be returned to you.
18 April 2011
Second Action Group newsletter published
The March/April 2011 edition of the action group newsletter has been published and will be soon be distributed to 5,000 houses in the surrounding area. It can also be downloaded from here.
16 April 2011
Fowlmere newsletter published
Residents in Fowlmere have produced their very own, independent newsletter about the wind farm proposals, written especially for Fowlmere residents. The newsletter has been widely distributed in Fowlmere, and it can also be downloaded from here.
2 March 2011
We continue wind farm protest
We are in the Royston Crow and the Royston Weekly News again, after around 50 members of the Stop
Heydon Grange Wind Farm Action Group gathered at Heydon Grange to take the 126.5-metre ballon for a Sunday walk to show our opposition to the proposals.
Royston Crow: Villagers continue wind farm protest
Royston Weekly News: Balloon protest over wind farm
28 February 2011
Residents take 126.5-metre high balloon for a walk to oppose wind farm
Around 50 people turned out on Sunday to attend the balloon walk, so thank you to all those who came along! The action group has been flying a balloon at 126.5-metres (415ft) so everyone in the surrounding area can see the size of the proposed turbines. People could see the balloon from all the surrounding villages; Elmdon, Melbourn and even Royston.
19 February 2011
Village slide show
In aid of SHGWAG - Andrew Drury and Peter Wiseman present a slide show of Heydon and Chishill.
Saturday 5th March, 7pm Great Chishill Village Hall
Ploughman's & Show, Bar & Raffle - £8.50 (be quick!)
Call Andrew Drury on 01763-837-364
17 February 2011
Action Group appears on the BBC's Look East
A BBC television crew interviews the Stop Heydon Grange Wind Farm Action Group Chairman on the proposals.
BBC Look East: footage of the Action Group on YouTube
17 February 2011
You are invited to a balloon walk
On Sunday 27th February 2011 starting at 10.45 am from New Buildings Farm, New Road, Heydon, SG8 8SU.
Join us as we walk the Icknield way and the Heydon Ditch near the proposed turbine locations, with our 6 meter balloon
flying as high as the turbine blades!
We hope to demonstrate to as many as possible the devastating effect such a development will have on our beautiful countryside.
Please come along to show your support, bring friends, family and even the dog!
Remember to wear your wellies, its a rural walk, and we want it to stay this way!
Park on the field in front of New Buidings Farmhouse
17 February 2011
A 'balloon' on the landscape
We are flying a blimp until 2 March 2011, at the exact height the wind turbines would be: 126.5 metres.
This is to show people in all the villages in our area, and all the passersby, how tall the wind turbines really will be,
and what they will look like on our landscape. Can you imagine looking out on 11 of those for 25 years, perhaps longer?
If you want to join the campaign to stop the wind farm, please click here.
15 February 2011
Andrew Lansley calls for Heydon wind farm proposals to be scrapped
Andrew Lansley, our local MP, has stated his views against the scheme, by issuing a press release calling for the proposals
to be dropped:
Cambridge First - South Cambridgeshire MP calls for Heydon wind farm plans to be dropped immediately
15 February 2011
We're in the news...
We are in the Royston Crow and the Royston Weekly News this week, after organising a string of publicity
stunts yesterday to coincide with the Volkswind exhibitions:
RoystonWeeklyNews - MP calls for Heydon Grange wind farm plans to be scrapped
Royston Crow - MP speaks out over wind farm plans after exhibition
The exhibitions were well attended and most people who attended were opposed to the scheme, so a big thank you to everyone who came along to make their views known.
But it doesn't end there, the fight must continue! Keep checking the website for regular updates.
31 January 2011
Action Group Newsletter Published
The first action group newsletter has been published and will be distributed to 5000 houses in the surrounding area. It can also be downloaded from here.
ACIA Noise Surveys
Noise consultants have been making enquiries in the local area about erecting listening stations in residents' gardens
to help inform the wind farm proposals. If you have been contacted in this way, please do agree to it, but you must
ensure you ask for a copy of the 'raw data'. Data like this will help everyone (including the action group) become more
informed about the potential benefits, or otherwise, of the scheme.
Please call 07563-763-631 if you have been contacted by
any noise consultants to let us know about it as soon as possible. Alternatively download the following draft
response and send it to
ACIA, 39 Garners Lane, Stockport, SK3 8SD
28 January 2011
Volkswind organises public exhibition in Heydon - make sure you come along to make your views known
Volkswind have announced two public exhibitions will take place at Heydon Grange Golf and Country Club, on:
- Tues, 15 Feb; 4pm to 8pm
- Wed, 16 Feb; 10am to 2pm
The Action Group urges residents of all affected villages to visit this exhibition, to question closely the Volkswind development team and to make their views known to the company representatives there.
10 December 2010
Volkswind communicates with residents of Heydon
Volkswind have sent a newsletter to residents of Heydon detailing proposals for the wind power plant at Heydon. The Stop Heydon Grange Wind Farm Action Group has issued a press statement to local media, as they believe the newsletter is confusing and misleading.
The timescales for the wind farm are still not known, but a Planning Application could be submitted to South Cambridgeshire District Council in early 2011, with a decision following four months later.
Alex Duffus, Chairman of the Stop Heydon Wind Farm Action Group, says: "This is the first communication we have received directly from Volkswind about the proposals and I was deeply shocked by what I saw. The plans that they show in their newsletter detail proposals that would see the countryside ruined by massive industrial wind turbines that are completely out of keeping with the surroundings. The proposals also show an ancient track and bridleway being used as an access road for massive lorries, and, as the proposals stand, the turbines may be built in an area that could see our local wildlife destroyed. Volkswind also do not appear to know how many wind turbines they are proposing to build, which is ridiculous considering the impact this is going to have on people's lives. We have a right to know what they are planning, in clear and concise terms, so we can make an informed opinion on the proposals."
"As well as all this, we cannot be certain that they have communicated with residents in other villages, who will be just as affected as residents in Heydon. We all feel that the way Volkswind have approached this is completely unacceptable."
+News Archive
24 November 2010
Public Meeting: 24th Nov 8pm, Heydon Village Church
To update on the proposed windfarm, a viewpoint map will be on display so that residents can see the impact to the surrounding landscape. All welcome.
15 November 2010
'Promises' raise thousands for fighting wind farm proposals
The action group has raised just over £7,000 from the 'Auction of Promises' to help fight proposals for a wind power plant at Heydon Grange.
The auction was organised by the 'Stop Heydon Grange Wind Farm' action group, and it was an auction of 'promises' all donated by local people. The promises that people were bidding on ranged from the every day - including lawn mowing and cake making - to the more unusual - including an archaeological dig in the winning bidder's own back garden and guest list spaces to a range of gigs in London.
Alex Duffus, Chairman of the Action Group, said: "This was a really fantastic evening and we are all delighted that we managed to raise so much. I would like to say a big thank you to all the people who made such generous bids, and to all the people who donated promises - as the hard work now begins for them!"
We'd also like to thank all those who helped with printing and distributing leaflets, and everyone who helped on the night.
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Website goes live.