August 15, 2011
England

Protests grow on Wooperton wind farm plan

by Brian Daniel, The Journal, www.journallive.co.uk 15 August 2011

Plans to build a wind turbine four times the height of the Angel of the North in the Northumberland countryside are facing growing opposition.

The application for an engine 77.9m high on land near Alnwick is being opposed by local residents and a parish council, with Northumberland National Park Authority expected to add an objection this week.

The application is for a turbine west of New Bewick Farm at Wooperton, and would be visible from the national park. It has been submitted to Northumberland County Council by land agent George F White on behalf of John Wrangham, owner of Harehope Estate and of the site.

The Journal has been told Tillside Parish Council and number of residents have lodged objections with Northumberland County Council. One of the objectors is John Carr-Ellison, who is owner of 4,000-acre Hedgeley Farms, which his family have owned since 1782, and Mr Wrangham’s neighbour.

He said: “My concern is that it is a very large structure in an area of outstanding beauty.

“It is in a natural bowl, near the Till River, surrounded by, to the west, the national park which is quite close, and to the east the well-used tourist areas of Hebburn and Ros Castle.

“There is a very well used road between Chatton and Alnwick with what many consider some of the best views of the Cheviots in the county and it will dominate a large part of that road.

“It is going to be four times the height of the Angel of North which is 20m. It is about the same size as the very large commercial turbines which are on Soutra.

“There are people who are happy with them but there are quite a few who are not. This is an area that at the moment that has been unsullied by large man made structures.”

Mr Carr-Ellison has written a letter setting out his objections to the national park authority, which is to consider the scheme at a meeting on Wednesday.

Members of its development management committee are being recommended to object to the application.

A report to the meeting, at the authority’s Hexham base at 10.30am, says: “Members are recommended to object to the proposed development because the applicant has failed to demonstrate that the proposed development would not have an unacceptable impact on the quality and character of the national park landscape and tranquility of the national park.”

Mr Wrangham could not be contacted for comment last night.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/08/15/protests-grow-on-wooperton-wind-farm-plan/