Every week there are letters in our local papers objecting to impending windfarm developments in west Cumbria.
For every proposal there is an action group against it, working hard to try to convince councillors to oppose these visually domineering and unsightly structures that are systematically destroying our rural landscape in west Cumbria.
And the developers? They seem to be in a world of their own and can’t seem to understand why they’re not wanted.
After all they’re doing us such a massive favour bringing these to Cumbria, with their ‘greenwash’ brochures, loaded questionnaires, and dodgy videos, and community funds to try to buy the hearts and minds of our rural communities.
One developer’s spokesperson was recently reported as saying that if we want to have green electricity we have to accept windfarms. Rubbish!
There are other methods of producing renewable energy in rural areas without destroying the landscape with turbines and their infrastructure.
To add insult to visual injury, the turbines just keep getting bigger. Those overlooking Stainburn are so much bigger than Siddick and Oldside, Wharrels being bigger still, and Tallentire Hill bigger than those.
And recent proposals by Infinergy Ltd for Marton in South Lakes would see 10 turbines as big as Blackpool Tower.
Charles Sandham, the chief executive of Infinergy said that he was doing it for his grandchildren and that previous generations had created a problem that some people thought a greater threat than terrorism.
Unfortunately, for the residents of rural Cumbria’s quiet backwaters, the real terrorists are windfarm developers and we are objecting to them “for our grandchildren”.
He also states that once a windfarm is built that people accept them.
Could it be that at that point we have no choice?
L HETHERINGTON
Oughterside Aspatria
2 November 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/11/03/turbine-battle-is-a-fight-for-our-grandchildrens-heritage/