April 7, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
Victorious campaigners who defeated plans for a windfarm on the Cumbrian coast said their win should act as a “˜wake-up call’ in the fight to stop future developments.
Jane Jackson, who fought against proposals for a five-turbine windfarm near Allonby, urged other people to follow their example to “stop the abuse of our landscape”.
It came after plans for a five-turbine windfarm at Brownrigg Hall Farm, just outside the seaside village, were rejected by Allerdale Council’s development panel on Thursday.
About 1,000 villagers, visitors and business owners from Allonby and the surrounding area objected when the firm Nuon Renewables submitted the blueprint.
Councillors refused the plans on the grounds the windfarm would have a detrimental visual impact on the landscape as well as harming tourism.
Mrs Jackson said she was pleased with the decision, but added there was no time to rest, with similar applications under consideration in Oughterside, West Newton and Tallentire.
She said: “We are absolutely delighted.
“But this should act as a wake-up call for people all over west Cumbria to stop national companies from abusing our landscape.”
Concerns were raised by councillors that narrow country lanes would not support the huge trucks delivering to the site.
Air Traffic Control safety experts raised worries that the windfarm would create a shadow on their radar, making it impossible to track planes over the site.
Campaigner Simon Brooks, owner of the nearby Manor House Caravan Park, said it would have had a catastrophic impact on all caravan parks in the area.
He said: “The construction of five wind turbines at Brownrigg Hall Farm could only have a negative effect on the fragile rural economy of this developing area.”
Councillor Joan Minto, a member of the development panel, agreed that the turbines would destroy Cumbria’s famous coastal views.
“People come from all over the world to watch the sunset over the Solway,” she said.
“We have little enough going for us as it is, but we do have natural beauty and I would hate to see that spoiled.”
Councillors voted 10 to two against the plans. Campaigners applauded as the result was confirmed.
By Ben Meller
7 April 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/04/07/the-wind-of-change-4/