December 11, 2007
England

Silloth wind farm refused

Plans for a windfarm near Silloth have been refused by Allerdale council.

The application for four turbines at Hellrigg, by energy company Npower, was deemed to be harmful to the local landscape and to the enjoyment of those visiting and living in the area.

Allerdale’s development panel took advice from officers, who also said there was no evidence to show there would not be a harmful effect on the residential amenity of the area.

It rejected the plans for Hellrigg, known as Park Head Farm, at its meeting today.

More than 1,000 people objected to the development and there was a petition signed by 380 protestors.

There were seven letters of support.

At the meeting local farmer David Montgomery said: “The farm land is too valuable a resource to be sacrificed for this development.

“It is the ultimate natural resource. We may need electricity but we need food.”

A spokesman for Npower said: “Only one per cent of the land would be taken up by the turbines.

“The area around the turbines would not be suitable for arable farming but animals would be able to graze on the land.”

Margaret Wright, 64, of Causewayhead, Silloth, said: “The people who live and work in the landscape would be overwhelmed by four wind turbines.

“They would be a defining character of the landscape.”

Bill Jefferson, Silloth councillor, said: “We all want to save the planet but it is how we go about it that matters.

“Nobody has the right to destroy their own heritage. We have done enough.”

Other objectors included Stanwix Park Holiday Centre, Silloth, which is concerned about the farm’s impact on business.

The Silloth-on-Solway Action Committee, which formed in 2004 to oppose a previous application, re-formed to fight the application.

Silloth Town Council, Holme Abbey and Holme Low parish councils, Cumbria County Council, the Solway Coast Area of Natural Beauty Partnership and Cumbria Wildlife Trust, also objected to the plans.

Times & Star

11 December 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/12/11/silloth-wind-farm-refused/