July 13, 2011
England

Windfarm plan anger

By Linzi Watson, News & Star, www.newsandstar.co.uk 13 July 2011

Early proposals for a windfarm at near Bolton Low Houses went on show yesterday – to objections from local residents.

Energy company Your Energy say they want to investigate whether it would be viable to build eight turbines – which could stand twice as high as Carlisle Civic Centre – on land at Little Waver Farm.

But their interest has sparked a protest from residents who live in and visit the area.

Bolton Low Houses based environment group FORCE who mounted fierce opposition against three turbines which have been built at High Pow have regrouped.

They turned out to an exhibition on the early plans at Bolton Low Houses village hall with a petition and posters calling for a stop to the turbines.

Avril Hemsley-Rose, whose property at Catlands Foot looks onto Little Waver farm, said: “This windfarm will destroy a huge expanse of rural hills, right in front of my home. We have already had to suffer the effects of the three turbines are High Pow – there are bedrooms in my house which I no longer use because of the noise.”

Marion Fitzgerald who lives in the village added: “This is not the right place for more turbines.”

Elli Logan, of Wigton, added: “Wind turbines are entirely undesirable. They blight the land and do not produce the amount of electricity claimed.”

A report by Your Energy into the site says: “Our work here is at a very early stage. “Extensive studies and surveys of the local environment need to be completed to determine if the Little Waver site is suitable for a windfarm and how many turbines it could accommodate.”

Your Energy say that Little Waver is suitable because existing studies show that there is sufficient wind speed; it is a suitable distance from houses; there is a nearby grid connection in Aspatria and the surrounding roads are suitable for construction access.

But the company say they will conduct more research into the noise, landscape and visual effects, as well as ecological and geotechnical studies.

A formal planning application has yet to be submitted but early ‘scoping’ documents sent to Allerdale Council reveal that the Little Waver windfarm – formerly known as Percy Hill – would have a maximum of eight 2.5MW turbines, each up to 110m in height.

Planning officers at Allerdale Council have previously said that the windfarm “has the potential to have significant environmental effects” which largely arise from the “scale and magnitude” of the development.

The exhibition of plans will continue today from 10am to 2pm. Your Energy says a website – www.littlewaverwindfarm.co.uk – or people can call 0800 707 6859 to find out more about the possible development.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/13/windfarm-plan-anger/