September 11, 2010
England

No to Westnewton wind turbines plan

Times & Star, www.timesandstar.co.uk 11 September 2010

Plans for three 350ft turbines at Westnewton, near Aspatria, have been thrown out by Allerdale council.

Broadview Energy Development wanted to erect the turbines at Warwick Hall Farm, to supply energy for 3,500- 5,300 homes.

More than 1,850 letters of objection were sent to the council, while Aspatria Town Council and Allonby and Westnewton parish councils also objected.

About 316 letters of support were also received.

An officer’s report to the development panel, which met at The Wave Centre in Maryport on Tuesday, recommended refusal on the grounds that it would have a harmful impact, set a precedent for building other turbines in the area, with current applications at Threapland Lees and Broughton Lodge, and because the environmental impact of the turbines outweighed the benefits.

Many villagers attended Tuesday’s meeting to speak out against to the plans.

Alan Keighley said that the amount of shadow flicker, caused by the blades passing in front of the sun, would be harmful. He showed a video of the effects of shadow flicker on a house at Bothel.

Fiona Wasteney raised concerns about vibrations and noise, and Muriel Swanson said it would harm the Westnewton conservation area and John Ryden said it would damage wildlife and the rural landscape.

Coun Bill Jefferson said: “It will have a significant effect on the landscape and I don’t think this company is listening to the local people.

“We need to protect our villages and we don’t want to see the turbines destroying the area of natural beauty and the Lake District.

“I don’t feel we should have any more applications for wind farms until we have a full investigation into how harmful they can be.”

Coun Peter Bales said: “It should be time for other districts and areas in Cumbria to take their share.”

A spokesman for Broadview Energy Developments said: “We feel that the benefits outweigh the negatives.“The turbines will provide 6.9 megawatts towards Cumbria’s renewable energy target and we feel we have done our best to listen and be sympathetic to residents.”

Councillors voted 11 to 2 to refuse planning permission.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/11/no-to-westnewton-wind-turbines-plan/