Twin towers? Discussion over second Garstang giant turbine 

Lancaster-based turbine company Wind Direct confirmed this week it is in talks with Dewlay’s neighbours, the Parkinson family of Cross House Farm, about the possibility of erecting a similar-sized turbine on their land close to the A6.

Although it is early days, if a feasibility study suggests the site is right, a planning application could be submitted for the second huge turbine at the Kirkland site.

The 126 metre-high Dewlay turbine cost an estimated £3.5m and caused great controversy in the Garstang area during the planning process.

And, in a separate development four miles to the south, bosses of Barton Grange Garden Centre have revealed they want to site two 48.5 metre high (top blade height) turbines near the garden centre, at a cost of almost £1m.

The increasing interest in wind power in the area comes as anti-wind turbine campaigners on Wyre’s mossland wait to hear the fate of plans for two 125 metre-high turbines at Eagland Hill.

The possibility of a large turbine at Cross House Farm was confirmed this week by Nicola Mortimer of Wind Direct, the company which oversaw the successful application on the Dewlay site.

She said the company had been contacted by Mr Walter Parkinson, of Cross House Farm, about a feasibility study for a wind turbine on his land.

She added: “If there is going to be one it would need to be the same height as the one at Dewlay, otherwise it would look a bit daft.”

She said the power produced by a second wind turbine at Kirkland would be sold to the National Grid.

Members of the Parkinson family had originally objected to the Dewlay turbine when it was first proposed three years ago.

But last October Mrs Parkinson, commenting after the erection of the turbine, suggested they may have had a change of heart, saying: “I was sceptical at first, but now it is here it is not as bad as I imagined.’’

Mr Walter Parkinson was unavailable for comment this week, but Mrs Parkinson said: “There are no definite plans. We don’t wish to comment further.”

A Dewlay spokeswoman said: “We are aware that a neighbour is holding talks regarding the installation of a wind turbine, however Dewlay Cheesemakers has no involvement in this process.”

Details of the definite proposals for Barton Grange Garden Centre were spelled out this week by company boss Mr Guy Topping.

He said Barton Grange was overseeing the project ‘in-house’, without recourse to outside developers.

Preliminary consultation among visitors had suggested four fifths of visitors to the centre were in favour. Barton Grange has also consulted nearby residents, prompting a mixed reaction but, according to Mr Topping “only a handful are not keen.”

He said after further consultations and considering the responses it was hoped to lodge a planning application with Wyre Council in six week’s time.

Mr Topping said the plans were aimed at the further ‘greening’ of the company, with the electricity produced being used to supply the garden centre.

A spokesman for the Eagland Hill Action Group, which is opposing plans for two turbines in the hamlet between Nateby and Pilling, said members were expecting the results of this month’s judicial review into the granting of the application within the next week.