September 30, 2011
England

Wind farm opponents launching campaign

By Catherine Priestley, Chief Reporter (Sedgefield), The Northern Echo, www.thenorthernecho.co.uk 30 September 2011

Protestors fighting plans to build one of England’s biggest wind farms have launched a visual campaign.

The proposal, by energy firm E.ON, is for up to 45 turbines on land alongside the A1 near Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

However, objectors said there were already enough wind turbines in the area.

They said they are inefficient, bring no significant benefits and are a blot on the landscape.

To help residents living near the site visualise how the Isles wind farm site would look, they have produced a series of banners.

Each depict the site from surrounding towns and villages.

Campaigner Jean Gillespie said: “We have created photo montages and made them as accurate as possible to help people grasp the scale of the turbines and impact of the proposed wind farm.

“We want to keep up the profile of our campaign.

“These banners will help people imagine how it will look from their homes so they can make up their own minds.”

Yesterday the first banner was unveiled in Sedgefield by town MP Phil Wilson.

He said: “County Durham has already played its part in renewable energy development – there are 16 wind farms up and running and one coming.

“It will be a long process, with the final decision in late 2013, early 2014, but it is important that people are active throughout the consultation.”

E.ON has drawn up three proposals – for 29, 30 and 45 turbines – with the first round of consultation due to end next Friday.

The company is then expected to progress with one of the options before seeking planning permission.

A spokesman said: “We are currently in the formal consultation stage for our proposed Isles wind farm and continue to seek comment from local residents on the three potential layouts.”

The proposals are at eon-uk.

com/theisles, or call 0800-096- 1199.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/30/wind-farm-opponents-launching-campaign/