July 13, 2007
England
England
Plans for a windfarm on the outskirts of Linton have been met with opposition from countryside campaigners.
Independent energy company Enertrag UK Ltd is exploring the possibility of putting eight turbines, up to 125 metres high, on land off the A1307 Cambridge Road.
The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) claims some of the most beautiful countryside in South Cambridgeshire and North Essex will be destroyed if the scheme goes ahead.
And residents have got together to set up an action group.
Shirley Fieldhouse, CPRE campaigner, said: “The panoramic views from the top of the hill enjoyed by walkers, cyclists and horse riders will be irrevocably marred by the turbines.
“On a clear day you can see as far as Ely Cathedral. On the Great Chesterford side, the turbines will dominate the skyline above the gently rolling agricultural fields and copses. This particularly beautiful landscape must not be sacrificed to such huge structures.”
She added CPRE supported renewable energy schemes “in the right place” and had not objected to wind farms in Fenland and Peterborough. Meanwhile, Stop Linton Wind Farm Action Group is being formed and a campaign website www.stoplwf.org.uk has been set up.
A spokeswoman for the group said: “The action group believes Enertrag has chosen an unsuitable site where the negative impact will far outweigh limited positive effects.”
Enertrag is consulting on the proposals and will hold a public exhibition on the scheme in the village hall on July 19. No plans have been submitted yet.
Terry Chapelhow, project engineer, said: “We are doing full public consultation over the next few months until we go to the planning application. The landscape consideration will be taken into account as part of our planning application.
“If we don’t actually do anything about climate change we might not have a landscape at all to enjoy.
“This is a very subjective issue and there are always differences of opinion.”
Public consultation runs until August 31. For details, go to www.enertraguk.com
13 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/13/windfarm-row-blows-up/