August 17, 2006
U.K.

Complaints flood in to new wind mast plans

http://www.northumberlandtoday.co.uk

A FLOOD of complaints has been received by council planning officers after fears rural north Northumberland could be again the target of wind farm companies.
The latest proposal comes on behalf of Debdon Wind Energy Limited, to set up a 50 metre wind galvanised steel mast near Debdon.
Planning officers have received more than 30 written complaints to date about the mast, which will monitor wind in the area for the next five years.
A location map for the proposed site is titled Cragside Wind Farm, leading residents to fear the mast could be a precursor to a wind farm development.
Objectors argue the site is outside of strategic wind resource areas indicated in the Government’s draft regional spatial strategy.
Rothbury resident Caroline Glanton hit out at the application, saying: “The proposed windfarm would entirely alter and spoil the landscape from miles around, an area much visited and valued by locals, and the many visitors who enjoy the so-far unspoiled countryside of Northumberland.”
The National Trust, which manages nearby Cragside, has expressed concerns over the proposal.
Jenny Ludman, trust planning advisor, told council officers the mast would have a “detrimental impact on the National Trust property”.
A visitor to Coquetdale also felt compelled to put pen to paper.
Sara Wallberg, from Germany, contacted the council to say she was “horrified at the prospect of anything likely to lead to the erection of wind turbines anywhere in this wonderful landscape”.
“The prospect is chilling and contrary…to the best planning guidelines”, she added.
But the tenant farmer at Debdon, Paul Turnbull, and councillors for affected parish Cartington have not raised any objections.
Parish council chairman Ian Armstrong said: “I do not see that Cartington Parish Council can sensibly object to the proposal at this stage, and in any case, the thinking about the erection of wind turbines in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty may have moved on in five years time when an application to establish a wind farm there could be lodged.”
Northumberland County Council’s highways and environmental services directorates have also not objected.
Dominic Coupe, of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), confirmed it had objected to the Debdon application, on the grounds it would “inevitably” lead to another application for a wind farm.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/08/17/complaints-flood-in-to-new-wind-mast-plans/