Windfarms now a threat to air safety
Air safety will be threatened in Allerdale if any more wind farms are built.
That’s according to the company responsible for traffic control of all planes flying in UK air space.
Air traffic control service NATS, in a letter to Allerdale council planning boss Ric Outhwaite, has warned that the district has reached what it regards as the safe acceptable limit of wind farms and that any more could compromise safety.
A NATS spokesman said that wind turbines may prevent radar from seeing aircraft or send false returns that could be interpreted as aircraft. This could pose a risk to aircraft safety.
The letter, written by systems engineer Alasdair Auld, said the company would be re-stating its objection to wind farms at Fleeter Wood near Dearham and at Tallentire.
It says it will also object to the withdrawn developments at Brownrigg Hall and Warwick Hall near Westnewton should they re-enter the system.
NATS said it was “extremely” likely to object to any further applications for turbines within the district.
NATS said that the local terrain and the construction of large wind turbines had the potential to cause false primary surveillance radar (PSR) plots to be generated on the company’s radar at Lowther Hill.It said: “Whilst a limited number of these false plots may be acceptable, NATS has concerns about the proliferation and impact of a large number of wind farms.
“Should all the wind farms currently in the planning system be built, this would unacceptably limit our ability to provide a safe and efficient air traffic service in the area.”
Anti-windfarm campaigners last night hailed the letter as a victory for their attempts to stop the proliferation of turbines throughout Allerdale.
Margaret O’Hare, of the Tallentire campaign group, said it appeared that approval for a windfarm at Flimby Hall had tipped the balance in terms of the area’s air safety.
She said: “Surely we now have to accept that enough is enough for our area. How can further development be in any way justified?”
NATS says the local terrain and the construction of large wind turbines has the potential to cause false primary surveillance radar (PSR) plots to be generated on the company’s radar at Lowther Hill.
It said: “Whilst a limited number of these false plots may be acceptable, NATS has concerns about the proliferation and impact of a large number of wind farms.
“As we have previously stated, should all the wind farms currently in the planning system be built this would unacceptably limit our ability to provide a safe and efficient air traffic service in the area.”
Mr Outhwaite was told that a review examining the impact of operational turbines on air traffic radar had been carried out.
It showed that the current level of “clutter” was acceptable, but was at the limit.
An Allerdale spokesman said the council would continue to consult with NATS about wind farm applications.
He added: “If there is any objection for reasons relating to air traffic safety then councillors may well choose to refuse planning permission.”
n Meanwhile, dozens of people attended a public exhibition to find out about Broadview Energy’s revised wind turbine scheme at Westnewton, near Aspatria.
Monday’s exhibition was organised by the firm before submitting its formal planning application to Allerdale council later this month.
Broadview initially failed in a bid to build five turbines at Warwick Hall Farm. This application drew more than 1,700 objections from people who fear the turbines would blight the Solway coast.
It is now preparing to submit a revised scheme for three 107-metre turbines south of the village. Protesters have already vowed to fight the new scheme but the firm hopes that its revised scheme will be viewed more favourably.
Broadview Energy’s managing director Jeffrey Corrigan, said: “It’s an ideal site for a small wind farm and we are committed to taking it through the planning process.”
11 December 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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