March 18, 2008
England

Couple in fear of turbines

A couple who live half a mile from the site of a proposed wind farm fear they could be surrounded by turbines after learning of another possible development near their home.

Reg and Tamsin Watson, of Ancroft Southmoor Farm, near Berwick, Northumberland, featured in The Journal last July expressing their dismay at Your Energy’s proposal to build 110m structures at Moorsyde – just 700 metres from their property.

Now the couple are facing the prospect of another 10 turbines of 115m on the other side of their home.

Tamsin, a 35-year-old self-employed accountant who works from home, said last night: “We would be surrounded, it would be intolerable. We would be living in the middle of a power station.

“Even that is not the end of it as our view to the south is threatened with a third scheme for six 362ft turbines on the ridge at Barmoor, just four kilometres from us.”

The couple chose Ancroft Southmoor after searching south east Scotland and North East England for a property where they could create a family home, a tourist business and somewhere for Tamsin to keep her horses.

They are devoting all their free time to converting old cottages, grain stores and byres into residential housing units and a family home.

But then came the Moorsyde application, which goes before Berwick Borough Council planners next Thursday, alongside Force 9’s scheme for Barmoor.

The seven 360ft turbines would be just 700 metres from the garden of a barn for which they have planning permission for conversion into a home.

Now the Watsons have discovered that E.ON UK is considering building another 10 turbines of 115m (377 ft) on the other side of their property.

Tamsin said: “You don’t know whether to laugh or cry, we have to install a ‘bat loft’ to protect our bats and agree the precise design of windows and doors with the planning department, but 700m away they are planning to build a 360ft-high power station in open fields.”

The couple had planned to rent out converted buildings as holiday cottages.

Reg, 36, who commutes to Edinburgh to his job with Standard Life, fears that once one wind farm is allowed, the floodgates will be opened – creating a wind farm landscape as has happened elsewhere.

By Brian Daniel

The Journal

18 March 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/03/18/couple-in-fear-of-turbines/