Friday, February 19, 2010
SOUR GRAPES
The problem with telling a lie is that you tend to end up telling another one, and then another, and then another, all the time trying to cover up the fact that you started off by telling a lie.
VVASP has moved into Desperate Damage Limitation Mode. They're now saying some really dumb things, like 'The evidence [for windfarms damaging your brain/bank balance] may not have convinced the ASA, but the evidence exists.'
Now, here's the point. If that evidence had existed, the ASA would have considered it. And, having considered it, if the ASA felt that the nimby nutters had a point, their ruling would have reflected that.
But no, say the nookies. 'Someone in the ASA has an interest in windfarms.'
WHAT?????????
Oh, dear. VVASP really are desperate. That is an alarming rumour to spread (well, that's VVASP for you) and a dangerous charge to make. What they're implying is that the ASA ruling was not objective or independent.
That, my friends, is a base slander on the part of VVASP.
When the Advertising Standards Authority received the complaints about VVASP literature, they first had to decide whether or not there was a case to investigate. They then contacted VVASP for their explanation, reasons and evidence.
VVASP supplied the rubbish 'evidence' they consider 'facts' to the ASA. ASA officers studied this and drafted a ruling, which was then sent to the VVASP for comments. If VVASP felt that the draft ruling contained inaccuracies, or there was additional evidence to be considered, they then had another opportunity to state their case.
The ruling, along with the evidence, was then submitted to the independent ASA council, who accepted the ruling as was and determined that VVASP had broken the rules on Substantiation and Truthfulness.
That is, the VVASP had been making extraordinary claims that they simply could not back up. Their so-called science was trash. They had cherrypicked a few bits of 'bad news' and lied about everything else. They were misleading and misinforming the public.
Now VVASP are desperately trying to claim that the ASA judgement was wrong. They had their chance, but the evidence (i.e. REAL evidence) to support their idiotic claims does not exist. A great deal of reliable evidence which undermines their stupid claims does exist.
So, all that VVASP can do now is pretend that the ASA is biased.
But didn't Mr VVasp say that a complaint to the ASA about ScottishPower Renewables had been upheld? He did say that, didn't he? So the ASA isn't biased at all.
A warning to people of decency: don't talk to the nimbies. They're deranged.
VVASP has moved into Desperate Damage Limitation Mode. They're now saying some really dumb things, like 'The evidence [for windfarms damaging your brain/bank balance] may not have convinced the ASA, but the evidence exists.'
Now, here's the point. If that evidence had existed, the ASA would have considered it. And, having considered it, if the ASA felt that the nimby nutters had a point, their ruling would have reflected that.
But no, say the nookies. 'Someone in the ASA has an interest in windfarms.'
WHAT?????????
Oh, dear. VVASP really are desperate. That is an alarming rumour to spread (well, that's VVASP for you) and a dangerous charge to make. What they're implying is that the ASA ruling was not objective or independent.
That, my friends, is a base slander on the part of VVASP.
When the Advertising Standards Authority received the complaints about VVASP literature, they first had to decide whether or not there was a case to investigate. They then contacted VVASP for their explanation, reasons and evidence.
VVASP supplied the rubbish 'evidence' they consider 'facts' to the ASA. ASA officers studied this and drafted a ruling, which was then sent to the VVASP for comments. If VVASP felt that the draft ruling contained inaccuracies, or there was additional evidence to be considered, they then had another opportunity to state their case.
The ruling, along with the evidence, was then submitted to the independent ASA council, who accepted the ruling as was and determined that VVASP had broken the rules on Substantiation and Truthfulness.
That is, the VVASP had been making extraordinary claims that they simply could not back up. Their so-called science was trash. They had cherrypicked a few bits of 'bad news' and lied about everything else. They were misleading and misinforming the public.
Now VVASP are desperately trying to claim that the ASA judgement was wrong. They had their chance, but the evidence (i.e. REAL evidence) to support their idiotic claims does not exist. A great deal of reliable evidence which undermines their stupid claims does exist.
So, all that VVASP can do now is pretend that the ASA is biased.
But didn't Mr VVasp say that a complaint to the ASA about ScottishPower Renewables had been upheld? He did say that, didn't he? So the ASA isn't biased at all.
A warning to people of decency: don't talk to the nimbies. They're deranged.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
NIMBY DISHONESTY
When Harborough Council contacted nearly one hundred local residents to acknowledge receipt of their objections to the proposed 3-turbine Gartree Windfarm near Market Harborough, the council and the residents both had a surprise. Because those 100 or so residents had never registered an objection to the windfarm.
No - the local bunch of nimby liars and loonies had stolen their identities in order to bulk out the number of objections received by the local council.
These are the depths to which the crazy Middle Englanders will stoop to protect something that isn't theirs against something they don't understand.
So what about our own locally-produced Liars and Loonies? How low will they go?
Judging by reactions to yesterday's bombshell - the Advertising Standards Authority's ruling that VVASP's propaganda has been misleading, unsubstantiated and untruthful - they're perfectly happy to continue trying to pull the wool over people's eyes.
Oh, they're angry - of course they are. Someone has called their bluff and they don't like it. They certainly don't like being exposed as gullible, fraudulent or both.
In a radio interview, Mr VVasp himself burbled away. This is just a skirmish, he said (yep - the kind of skirmish which leaves you holed beneath the waterline). He also tried to give the impression that his nimby group had previously complained to the ASA about ScottishPower Renewables' literature and had won. So, as he put it, 'We're thinking of this as one-one.'
Well, VVASP have never successfully complained to anyone (except themselves) about SPR's literature. In a completely separate case, a complaint was made about a photomontage of wind turbines. SPR then changed the image. Nothing to do with Lenchwick Windfarm.
And certainly nothing to do with making crazy claims and lying to people.
Mr VVasp referred to the recent ASA ruling as concerning 'two trivial complaints'. The first was about VVASP's use of the word 'forever' - as in, the windfarm would 'change the landscape forever'.
Now, as a former scientist, Mr VVasp probably has a grasp of the notion of infinity. But not, it would seem, of 'forever', which is rather similar to infinity and evidently does not mean what VVASP propagandists seem to think it means. So their advert was clearly nonsense and the 'trivial' complaint was upheld.
So which was the other 'trivial' complaint - the one about VVASP telling people they were all going to go mad or the one about VVASP telling everyone that their houses were going to be worthless?
Mr VVasp chose not to be drawn. Probably because neither of those complaints could in any way be considered trivial by a sentient and intelligent human being.
He cited the two disreputable reports which they based their idiotic claims about mental health on - one ('published', said Mr VVasp; 'self-published' says the rest of the world) which has never been peer-reviewed, involved a tiny sample of agitators interviewed by phone, all of whom had previous medical conditions, and no control group. The other was commissioned by an anti-windfarm group and was dismissed by the ASA's investigators as not a very scientific report.
And then Mr VVasp insisted that his group had quoted 'verbatim' from the RICS 2007 study of windfarms and house prices. That is fairly true, in the sense that they had homed in on a handful of words which, when quoted out of context, were likely to raise alarm and ignored the rest of the report, which said something else altogether.
No, basically, VVASP have been caught out. They lied to themselves, they lied to each other and they lied to you.
If you haven't already read the full ASA ruling, check the blogpost below and click on the link.
If you have, never, ever let anyone forget that the VVASP can't tell the difference between Absolute Nonsense and Fact.
PS: for those of you who haven't yet seen the article in the Evesham Observer:
http://www.eveshamobserver.co.uk/news169788.html
No - the local bunch of nimby liars and loonies had stolen their identities in order to bulk out the number of objections received by the local council.
These are the depths to which the crazy Middle Englanders will stoop to protect something that isn't theirs against something they don't understand.
So what about our own locally-produced Liars and Loonies? How low will they go?
Judging by reactions to yesterday's bombshell - the Advertising Standards Authority's ruling that VVASP's propaganda has been misleading, unsubstantiated and untruthful - they're perfectly happy to continue trying to pull the wool over people's eyes.
Oh, they're angry - of course they are. Someone has called their bluff and they don't like it. They certainly don't like being exposed as gullible, fraudulent or both.
In a radio interview, Mr VVasp himself burbled away. This is just a skirmish, he said (yep - the kind of skirmish which leaves you holed beneath the waterline). He also tried to give the impression that his nimby group had previously complained to the ASA about ScottishPower Renewables' literature and had won. So, as he put it, 'We're thinking of this as one-one.'
Well, VVASP have never successfully complained to anyone (except themselves) about SPR's literature. In a completely separate case, a complaint was made about a photomontage of wind turbines. SPR then changed the image. Nothing to do with Lenchwick Windfarm.
And certainly nothing to do with making crazy claims and lying to people.
Mr VVasp referred to the recent ASA ruling as concerning 'two trivial complaints'. The first was about VVASP's use of the word 'forever' - as in, the windfarm would 'change the landscape forever'.
Now, as a former scientist, Mr VVasp probably has a grasp of the notion of infinity. But not, it would seem, of 'forever', which is rather similar to infinity and evidently does not mean what VVASP propagandists seem to think it means. So their advert was clearly nonsense and the 'trivial' complaint was upheld.
So which was the other 'trivial' complaint - the one about VVASP telling people they were all going to go mad or the one about VVASP telling everyone that their houses were going to be worthless?
Mr VVasp chose not to be drawn. Probably because neither of those complaints could in any way be considered trivial by a sentient and intelligent human being.
He cited the two disreputable reports which they based their idiotic claims about mental health on - one ('published', said Mr VVasp; 'self-published' says the rest of the world) which has never been peer-reviewed, involved a tiny sample of agitators interviewed by phone, all of whom had previous medical conditions, and no control group. The other was commissioned by an anti-windfarm group and was dismissed by the ASA's investigators as not a very scientific report.
And then Mr VVasp insisted that his group had quoted 'verbatim' from the RICS 2007 study of windfarms and house prices. That is fairly true, in the sense that they had homed in on a handful of words which, when quoted out of context, were likely to raise alarm and ignored the rest of the report, which said something else altogether.
No, basically, VVASP have been caught out. They lied to themselves, they lied to each other and they lied to you.
If you haven't already read the full ASA ruling, check the blogpost below and click on the link.
If you have, never, ever let anyone forget that the VVASP can't tell the difference between Absolute Nonsense and Fact.
PS: for those of you who haven't yet seen the article in the Evesham Observer:
http://www.eveshamobserver.co.uk/news169788.html
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
VVASP SLAMMED BY OFFICIAL RULING
One of the initial reasons for this blog was the urge to find the facts, the actual reality, about windfarms and to investigate the crazier claims being made by the antis (VVASP).
You see, it's a lot quicker to make up a lie than it is to go and find out (and then explain) the truth.
Besides which, the truth - the facts of the matter - are of no help whatsoever to Vale Villagers Against Scottish Power, so they have to make things up or distribute the propaganda of some other looney-tune anti-windfarm group and pass it off as 'fact'.
Ah, yes - that awkward word. 'FACT'. I think we all agree basically what is meant by a 'FACT'. But apparently, not VVASP. To them, a 'FACT' is an opinion, a rogue statistic or a terrifying thought wrapped up in bogus scientific language in order to fool the unwary.
Certain of these 'facts' were published by VVASP in a leaflet drop at the very start of their anti-social campaign. The same made-up 'facts' were published in their October '09 newsletter.
They should have been more careful, because there is an independent body known as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which looks into this sort of thing.
To read the ASA's full report and ruling on VVASP's dodgy facts, published today, just follow the link:
http://www.asa.org.uk/Complaints-and-ASA-action/Adjudications/2010/2/Vale-Villagers-Against-Scottish-Power/TF_ADJ_48094.aspx
Here's the proof, folks. VVASP have been misleading you. They have breached the Code of Advertising Practice guidelines on Substantiation and Truthfulness.
We need never trust another word they say.
You see, it's a lot quicker to make up a lie than it is to go and find out (and then explain) the truth.
Besides which, the truth - the facts of the matter - are of no help whatsoever to Vale Villagers Against Scottish Power, so they have to make things up or distribute the propaganda of some other looney-tune anti-windfarm group and pass it off as 'fact'.
Ah, yes - that awkward word. 'FACT'. I think we all agree basically what is meant by a 'FACT'. But apparently, not VVASP. To them, a 'FACT' is an opinion, a rogue statistic or a terrifying thought wrapped up in bogus scientific language in order to fool the unwary.
Certain of these 'facts' were published by VVASP in a leaflet drop at the very start of their anti-social campaign. The same made-up 'facts' were published in their October '09 newsletter.
They should have been more careful, because there is an independent body known as the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) which looks into this sort of thing.
To read the ASA's full report and ruling on VVASP's dodgy facts, published today, just follow the link:
http://www.asa.org.uk/Complaints-and-ASA-action/Adjudications/2010/2/Vale-Villagers-Against-Scottish-Power/TF_ADJ_48094.aspx
Here's the proof, folks. VVASP have been misleading you. They have breached the Code of Advertising Practice guidelines on Substantiation and Truthfulness.
We need never trust another word they say.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
AUDIT COMMISSION
A kind soul has been in touch with Wind of Change to suggest that the Audit Commission might be interested in the way Parish Council precepts have apparently been diverted into fighting the proposed Lenchwick Windfarm, even though the planning application for the said windfarm has yet to be submitted.
It has always struck us that the use of tax-payers' money to fund the activities of the Windfarm Working Party may not be entirely appropriate.
Being staunch believers in democracy (of the democractic kind), we would be very interested in hearing from anyone who knows about the Audit Commission and the way it works.
If you are happy to advise you can contact us in confidence by email: wind-in-the-orchard@hotmail.com.
PS: we're still sworn to secrecy but have been reassured that some Good News will be on its way in a week or two.
Keep smiling!
It has always struck us that the use of tax-payers' money to fund the activities of the Windfarm Working Party may not be entirely appropriate.
Being staunch believers in democracy (of the democractic kind), we would be very interested in hearing from anyone who knows about the Audit Commission and the way it works.
If you are happy to advise you can contact us in confidence by email: wind-in-the-orchard@hotmail.com.
PS: we're still sworn to secrecy but have been reassured that some Good News will be on its way in a week or two.
Keep smiling!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
BLOW, WINDS
Over the past couple of months, a new support group for the proposed Lenchwick Windfarm has been forming.
BLoW - 'Back Local Windfarms' - currently consists of representatives from the Lenches, Harvington, Norton & Lenchwick and the wider Wychavon area. Expect a website to appear imminently.
Of course, BLoW will never be as raucous as the protesters of VVASP. And why would they need to be? The truth speaks more quietly than lies, and BLoW has the advantage of being on the side of progress and common sense, whereas VVASP represents self-interest and ignorance.
It is extremely likely that the proposed Lenchwick Windfarm will go ahead. As soon as the blades start turning, local residents will realise that all the hogwash spread about the place by VVASP nimbies was total nonsense. There will be a few who were foolish enough to believe VVASP, which is a shame because their lives might well be blighted - not by the windfarm but by VVASP's brainwashing. Let's be honest, though: the skyline over Bishampton Bank will, before too long, be graced with five elegant turbines quietly and efficiently harvesting the prevailing winds to produce green elecricity.
So, in many ways, BLoW doesn't really have very much to do. The members seem to be aware of this. Letters of support for the windfarm to be sent to Wychavon's planning department is about as much as is required, but there is also work to be done, pointing out the lunacy of VVASP's propaganda and helping to skew the argument back towards some kind of normality.
If you wish to know more about BLoW, please feel free to contact us here at 'Wind of Change' (wind-in-the-orchard@hotmail.com) and we will keep you posted.
BLoW - 'Back Local Windfarms' - currently consists of representatives from the Lenches, Harvington, Norton & Lenchwick and the wider Wychavon area. Expect a website to appear imminently.
Of course, BLoW will never be as raucous as the protesters of VVASP. And why would they need to be? The truth speaks more quietly than lies, and BLoW has the advantage of being on the side of progress and common sense, whereas VVASP represents self-interest and ignorance.
It is extremely likely that the proposed Lenchwick Windfarm will go ahead. As soon as the blades start turning, local residents will realise that all the hogwash spread about the place by VVASP nimbies was total nonsense. There will be a few who were foolish enough to believe VVASP, which is a shame because their lives might well be blighted - not by the windfarm but by VVASP's brainwashing. Let's be honest, though: the skyline over Bishampton Bank will, before too long, be graced with five elegant turbines quietly and efficiently harvesting the prevailing winds to produce green elecricity.
So, in many ways, BLoW doesn't really have very much to do. The members seem to be aware of this. Letters of support for the windfarm to be sent to Wychavon's planning department is about as much as is required, but there is also work to be done, pointing out the lunacy of VVASP's propaganda and helping to skew the argument back towards some kind of normality.
If you wish to know more about BLoW, please feel free to contact us here at 'Wind of Change' (wind-in-the-orchard@hotmail.com) and we will keep you posted.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
RADIO FREE LENCHWICK
Fear not, good campaigners! 'Never fear, Aeolus is here.'
Okay, so things have been rather quiet on the windfarm front of late.
Thanks to the people of Harvington, we now know that our parish council money is going to a solicitor at Parkinson Wright. Quite why the infamous 'Windfarm Working Party' established by the anti-renewables nookies of Church Lench Parish Council feels the need to retain a solicitor is unclear. They said they were only gathering and sharing information about the proposed Lenchwick Windfarm. What has a solicitor got to do with that?
Ah, but of course: the WWP is joined at the hip to Church Lench PC, which is itself a puppet parish council worked by the desperados of VVASP (Vain Villagers And Selfish Pigs). None of these groups is remotely interested in taking an impartial and unbiased approach to the windfarm issue. They're spending our money on legal advice to help them fight the windfarm.
If you think that's not on, feel free to contact your local parish councillor. You never know.
Meanwhile, VVASP continue to host a variety of fundraising events at their local watering hole, The Giblet (so named after an recent episode of 'Rab C. Nesbitt' in which the 'scum' of Govan campaigned dishonestly against a mobile phone mast - ring any bells?). As so often happens, though, VVASP don't always admit that they're holding a fundraiser.
Honestly, you just can't trust some people!
Throckmorton, it would appear, may be getting a 90-metre mast designed to improve the measurement of wind speed. Bet the nimbies just love the sound of that! No, there'll be no noise, no 'flicker', no harm to wildlife, but they'll still oppose it 'cos that's what they do!!!
In the meantime we all eagerly await the arrival of ScottishPower Renewables' planning application and the Environmental Impact Statement. Evidently, a lot of work has been going into this, which should leave the nimby nonsense-mongers up the creek without a paddle. All the legal advice in the world won't disguise the fact that their opposition to the windfarm is silly. They'll be left foaming at the mouth and spitting out ridiculous claims that don't stand up. On the one side, there will be a detailed and measured appraisal by experts. On the other, a load of lies, abuse and white noise masquerading as 'science' - but that's what the Vale Villagers call democracy.
Which brings us to the big news, and one of the main reasons why Radio Free Lenchwick hasn't been broadcasting so much of late.
One of our correspondents has been keeping us in suspense with the promise of something rather interesting and exciting in the offing. If our information is correct, it'll put the nimbies' noses right out of joint.
Watch this space!
Over and out.
Okay, so things have been rather quiet on the windfarm front of late.
Thanks to the people of Harvington, we now know that our parish council money is going to a solicitor at Parkinson Wright. Quite why the infamous 'Windfarm Working Party' established by the anti-renewables nookies of Church Lench Parish Council feels the need to retain a solicitor is unclear. They said they were only gathering and sharing information about the proposed Lenchwick Windfarm. What has a solicitor got to do with that?
Ah, but of course: the WWP is joined at the hip to Church Lench PC, which is itself a puppet parish council worked by the desperados of VVASP (Vain Villagers And Selfish Pigs). None of these groups is remotely interested in taking an impartial and unbiased approach to the windfarm issue. They're spending our money on legal advice to help them fight the windfarm.
If you think that's not on, feel free to contact your local parish councillor. You never know.
Meanwhile, VVASP continue to host a variety of fundraising events at their local watering hole, The Giblet (so named after an recent episode of 'Rab C. Nesbitt' in which the 'scum' of Govan campaigned dishonestly against a mobile phone mast - ring any bells?). As so often happens, though, VVASP don't always admit that they're holding a fundraiser.
Honestly, you just can't trust some people!
Throckmorton, it would appear, may be getting a 90-metre mast designed to improve the measurement of wind speed. Bet the nimbies just love the sound of that! No, there'll be no noise, no 'flicker', no harm to wildlife, but they'll still oppose it 'cos that's what they do!!!
In the meantime we all eagerly await the arrival of ScottishPower Renewables' planning application and the Environmental Impact Statement. Evidently, a lot of work has been going into this, which should leave the nimby nonsense-mongers up the creek without a paddle. All the legal advice in the world won't disguise the fact that their opposition to the windfarm is silly. They'll be left foaming at the mouth and spitting out ridiculous claims that don't stand up. On the one side, there will be a detailed and measured appraisal by experts. On the other, a load of lies, abuse and white noise masquerading as 'science' - but that's what the Vale Villagers call democracy.
Which brings us to the big news, and one of the main reasons why Radio Free Lenchwick hasn't been broadcasting so much of late.
One of our correspondents has been keeping us in suspense with the promise of something rather interesting and exciting in the offing. If our information is correct, it'll put the nimbies' noses right out of joint.
Watch this space!
Over and out.
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