STAPLE (South Tending Acting to Protect our Local Environment) was set up by local residents in August 2006, after the public declaration by npower renewables that it was to request planning permission to build a wind farm at Earls Hall Farm, near Clacton-on-Sea. The sole purpose of STAPLE is to campaign against this proposed development, which it considers to be inappropriately sited. STAPLE will endeavour not only to present the case against the installation of wind turbines at this location, but is also charged with keeping local people informed of developments with the project.

STAPLE has issued newsletters on a regular basis. It has also held public exhibitions (St Osyth and Clacton), manned stalls at local events, and has participated in public meetings including an open debate with the developer at a meeting convened by St Osyth Parish Council. Recently it delivered a three minute submission to a Special Meeting of TDC's Development Control Committee on the occasion of the vote on whether or not planning permission should be granted.

STAPLE recognises the need to generate renewable forms of energy in the fight to slow down Climate Change, but not if this involves positioning wind turbines in unsuitable locations, which may result in material damage to the quality of people's lives. Ultimately, it believes that profit-driven developers are jumping on the subsidy band-wagon, and as a result are doing a dis-service to those that want to develop more sustainable solutions. Developers recognise that there is a growing debate on 1) whether the subsidies for onshore wind will be as generous in the future and 2)  whether the  ETSU-R-97 noise standard will remain in place. Without the subsidies, there would not be the same level of interest in putting wind turbines in opportunistic locations, and without ETSU-R-97, the Environmental Health Officers of District Councils would not permit the projects. The result is a mad klondike-like rush for onshore wind, with developers keen to get their plans in before the rules change.

The debate on the continued existence of subsidies has already started, with the Energy White Paper of May 2007 already recommending that other forms of renewable energy will receive more generous subsidies than onshore wind, as from April 2009. Also the Conservative Party has proposed to remove subsidies for onshore wind, if it gets in to power. This policy decision has already stimulated the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) in to stating that such a move would "cripple the industry". What better proof is there than this that the onshore wind industry is addicted to an over-generous level of subsidy !

On noise, there is a burgeoning body of opinion recognising that there ARE noise issues resulting from wind-turbines. This is not just from those who see themselves as the victims of wrongly located onshore wind farms, but from academics, acousticians, medical experts etc. The criticisms range from the inadequate nature of noise readings (which differ at hub height than the standard 10m above the ground measure), to the study of the experiences of people living near wind farms. A recent Salford University study refuting noise issues on the grounds that since 1991 there have not been a material number of complaints, is of no comfort. This is because it is only in the last 12-18 months that we have started to see clusters of the new generation of mega turbines being positioned in locations close to housing. So very few people have yet had the chance to complain. We believe that ultimately there will be statutory rules on the minimum distance between turbines and the dwellings of uninvolved parties.