June 9, 2011
England

Wind turbine plans for Walkers' Skelmersdale site

by Joe Thomas, Skelmersdale Advertiser, www.osadvertiser.co.uk 9 June 2011

Plans to build a 125-metre wind turbine at Walkers’ Skelmersdale plant have been released.

The proposal comes as the company looks to renewable sources to meet its energy requirements.

Should the turbine be built it would generate approximately 30% of the site’s energy and cut carbon emissions by around 3,000 tonnes per year.

A significant employer in the area, the PepsiCo factory produces recognisable brands such as Monster Munch crisps and Snack-a-Jacks.

Consultation is now set to start with West Lancashire Borough Council and neighbours of the Pennine Place base.

Before submitting a planning application, neighbours and businesses are invited to review the plans and provide comments on the proposal.

A public exhibition will be held at Walkers’ Skelmersdale site at Pennine Place on Friday, June 17, from 4pm-7pm and Saturday, June 18 from 10am-3pm.

Visitors will have the opportunity to ask questions, share feedback and see visuals showing different views of the proposed turbine.

Simon Ely, site leader for Walkers in Skelmersdale, said: “The turbine will enable us to generate around a third of the electricity used at our Skelmersdale site, which is enough to power around 1,500 average-sized homes.”

Extensive research into the impact a wind turbine would have on the area has been carried out.

Mr Ely added: “The next step is to share and discuss our plans with the local community.

“We would welcome all comments and feedback, so hope that people will take the opportunity to come and speak to our project team.”

If planning permission is granted, Walkers aim to install the turbine towards the end of 2012.

Roger Clayton, of the north west section of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said the group was not necessarily against wind turbines and planned to visit the exhibition.

He said: “Areas of concern that we would like to address are based on the new generation of very high wind turbines.

“Not only do they dominate the landscape but there are concerns about noise caused by “wind shear”, which can affect properties several hundred metres away.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/06/09/wind-turbine-plans-for-walkers-skelmersdale-site/