January 28, 2012
England

Carlisle MP backing Bill on wind turbines

By Julian Whittle, The Cumberland News, www.cumberlandnews.co.uk 27 January 2012

Carlisle MP John Stevenson has declared his backing for a Private Member’s Bill to outlaw wind turbines close to people’s homes.

Lord Reay’s Wind Turbines (Minimum Distances from Residential Premises) Bill would, for example, rule out the proposal for a turbine at Newlands Farm near Cumwhinton.

This is the subject of planning appeal, due to be heard at the end of May.

Mr Stevenson has voiced his support as Lord Reay’s Bill enters the committee stage in the House of Lords.

The Conservative MP said: “I agree with the Wind Turbines Bill’s proposed minimum distance from dwellings and when it is presented in the House of Commons, I will be supporting it.”

“Regarding the application for a wind turbine at Newlands Farm, I have made my objections known to Carlisle City Council regarding the previous planning application.”

“I will continue to support the residents of Cumwhinton and the surrounding areas in their fight against a wind turbine being erected in close proximity to their village.”

The Wind Turbines Bill specifies different minimum distances from residential property, depending on the height of the turbines measured to the blade tip.

For turbines 25-50m high, the minimum distance is 1km; for 50-100m turbines it is 1.5km; for 100-150m turbines, 2km; for anything taller, 3km.

The 100m turbine proposed for Newlands Farm is only 0.42km from the nearest house, Cringles Farm.

However, it is unlikely that the Bill will become law before the planning appeal is heard.

An inquiry at Carlisle Civic Centre is due to start on May 29 and is expected to last three days.

Bolsterstone Innovative Energy originally wanted to build three turbines at Newlands Farm, near M6 junction 42.

That scheme was thrown out in 2010, following a planning inquiry, prompting Bolsterstone to table two more applications – one for a single turbine, the other for two.

Both brought more than 1,100 objections and were rejected in November on the grounds that the turbines would be too close to Cringles Farm and Beech Cottage.

Bolsterstone has appealed against refusal of the scheme for a single turbine.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/28/carlisle-mp-backing-bill-on-wind-turbines/