Wind farm's heritage risk
A proposed wind farm would cause “significant harm” to nationally important heritage sites, a public inquiry heard yesterday.
Wind power company Catamount Energy is proposing to erect six turbines at Barmoor, near Berwick, Northumberland.
Its scheme is being opposed by the Save our Unspoilt Landscape (SOUL) group, at an ongoing public inquiry into three projects seeking a combined 20 turbines close to the town.
At the hearing yesterday, SOUL called archaeology and heritage consultant George Lambrick to give evidence on the impact of the proposed Catamount turbines on the cultural heritage of the area. The Barmoor site is close to the remains of the mid 17th century Ford Moss Colliery, a scheduled ancient monument, which has a Grade II-listed chimney.
It is also near a nationally important cluster of prehistoric rock art on Broomridge and at Roughting Linn, both also scheduled ancient monuments.
The registered battlefield at Flodden, where the English and Scottish clashed in 1513, is also nearby.
So too is Barmoor Castle, a Grade II*listed building built in 1801 which is only of one two properties in Northumberland classed as a priority A on English Heritage’s at risk register.
Mr Lambrick told the inquiry sitting at Berwick’s Maltings theatre that the area has an “exceptionally rich cultural heritage” which would be harmed by the introduction of turbines. He said: “The development would result in significant harm to the setting and special interest of three nationally important heritage assets of varied character…
“The cumulative impacts on numerous less important or more distant heritage assets and the visual change to the substantially unspoilt historic character of the landscape would also be significant, and all these effects would contribute to a wider detrimental effect on the opportunities already being pursued to promote educational, social and economic benefits through heritage interpretation and development of tourism.”
Planning inspector Ruth McKenzie was also told that the presence of the wind farm would make it “substantially more difficult” to remove Barmoor Castle from the buildings at risk register. Mr Lambrick said: “Because the house is very substantial and the cost of repairs and conversion to a new use would be very high, its at risk status is especially sensitive to anything that might deter investment.”
Mr Lambrick said “substantial uncertainties” remain as to the possible impacts of disturbing the underground mining heritage and any ground water.
The inquiry is hearing an appeal by Catamount and two other companies which were refused planning permission by the now-defunct Berwick Borough Council last March.
The other developers are Your Energy which is seeking seven turbines at Moorsyde and npower renewables which wants to put seven engines at Toft Hill.
Mrs McKenzie will make recommendations to the secretary of state for communities and local government, who will determine the appeals.
The inspector is to begin three days of site visits on Tuesday.
By Brian Daniel
The Journal
6 June 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
Some possibly related stories:
- Northumberland wind farm will be seen from Foulden
- Barmoor wind farm campaigners unhappy with Council
- Closing arguments put to wind farm inquiry; Decision not expected until new year
- Battle lines drawn at pre-enquiry hearing into wind farm proposals
- Wind farms would have 'defining influence' on north Northumberland landscape
- Northumberland windfarm plans rejected by government
The copyright of this article is owned by the author or publisher indicated. Its availability here constitutes a "fair use" as provided for in section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Law as well as in similar "fair dealing" exceptions of the copyright laws of other nations, as part of National Wind Watch's effort to advance understanding of the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development. For more information, click here.
