December 6, 2007
England
England
Historians are worried 400ft wind turbines could ruin Naseby’s English Civil War battlefield site.
Power company E.ON is investigating the possibility of installing turbines close to the historic battlefield.
The proposals have been met with anger from historians, who are working on plans to boost the national reputation of Naseby by building a visitor centre at the battle site.
Historian Martin Marix Evans, who has written books on the battle, is chairman of the Naseby Battlefield Project.
He said: “Technically, the turbines wouldn’t be on the battlefield area, but they would be right next to it.
“That means if people were looking at the battle site and trying to work out how the battle evolved there’d be these thrashing and waving arms distracting them, which I don’t think is a very good idea.
“They would be very prominent on the landscape and I rather hope it won’t happen.”
The battlefield group has not yet formally objected to the wind turbine scheme, as an official planning application has not yet been made.
But English Heritage has told E.ON it opposes the scheme.
Glynn Coppack, of English Heritage, said: “We’ve made it very clear that we think it will have a serious impact on the battlefield because it’s a large, open area that is unspoilt by anything at the moment.”
After Hastings and the Battle of Britain, Naseby is regarded as the most important and decisive battle ever fought in England.
The battle was fought on the morning of June 14, 1645, when Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army destroyed the forces of King Charles I.
Historians believe the company plans to build “seven or eight” turbines, which could be more than 400ft tall and would be within two miles of the battle site.
But while E.ON spokesman Jamie Majid confirmed the company was looking at land close to the battle site as a potential location for wind turbines, he said the plans were still in their very early stages.
He said: “We are looking at the area, but it’s far too early to say how big any turbines would be and we have not yet submitted any formal plans.”
The company is planning to write to parish councils in the area over the next few weeks, to make them aware of the plans.
By Wayne Bontoft
6 December 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/12/06/nasebys-latest-battle-is-against-wind-turbines/