January 22, 2012
England

Has a Roman road rubbed salt into wind farm plans?

Kenilworth Weekly News, www.kenilworthweeklynews.co.uk 22 January 2012

Another possible spanner has been thrown into the works as campaigners continue with their fight to oppose plans for a wind farm in south Warwickshire.

Broadview Energy is weeks away from submitting its application for the Starbold site, which, if granted, will see five turbines built on land near Bishops Itchington and the Burton Dassett hills.

But the Courier was this week told there may be the archeological remains of an ancient settlement underneath the land – which could act as a barrier to the energy firm’s plans.

John Bolton, who lives near Bishops Itchington, said: “The wind farm would fall on either side of a 2,000-year-old Roman salt road which was used to carry salt across the country from the mine in Droitwich.

“Around salt roads and ancient roadways, there is bound to be ancient settlements as well.

“Broadview wants to build a road for 10,000 lorries to drive over what appears to be a Roman settlement. That would be a tragedy.”

But Olly Buck, Broadview’s project development manager, said it was unlikely the firm’s plans would be altered.

He said: “We have completed a programme of archaeological investigation across the site where ground will be disturbed.

“The evaluations have been undertaken in close consultation with the Warwickshire county archaeologist and have revealed the potential presence of archaeological features.

“But the claim that there is evidence of a Roman salt road running through the site is unfounded and cannot be considered as valid in the absence of robust archaeological evaluation similar to that already completed.”

Mr Buck said the results of the firm’s studies will be included in its planning application, which will be submitted to Stratford District Council in the coming weeks.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/22/has-a-roman-road-rubbed-salt-into-wind-farm-plans/