Deadline for firm in wind farm row
Energy company E.ON has been given 21 days to repair a broken wind turbine at Lowca in Cumbria or face enforcement action.
Copeland Council says the firm has breached planning approval by leaving the turbine unrepaired.
The wind turbine has not worked for 14 months and site operator E.On had agreed to repair it by the end of February.
The energy company says the turbine has a fault in the gearbox that cannot be repaired on site.
Ian Curwen, for Copeland Council, said: “E.ON has encountered problems getting parts for the wind turbine and that’s why it has taken so long to repair it.”
However, E.ON has already breached planning approval by leaving the turbine unfixed. A planning condition for wind turbines ensures that turbines at the end of their working life must not be left to deteriorate and must be dismantled within six months of becoming inactive.
Councillor Norman Clarkson said action must be taken.
He said: “It’s no good putting conditions down and not doing anything when they are not fulfilled. They have gone way over the time limit by eight months. It’s time we took some action.”
Brian Ennis, chairman of Lowca Parish Council, said: “We voted against them from the start. This proves our point that wind turbines aren’t efficient. If they were so efficient, why aren’t they being repaired?”
Press Association
27 March 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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