April 24, 2012
England

More turbines will ruin the landscape

By Julian Whittle, News & Star, www.newsandstar.co.uk 24 April 2012

More wind turbines at Welton, east of Wigton, would be a “blot on the landscape” objectors say.

Glasgow firm TGC Renewables has tabled planning applications with Allerdale Council to build two 154ft-high turbines in a field north of the Welton-Rosley road and west of Ling Lane.

Sebergham and Welton parish council has called a public meeting in Welton Village Hall, at 7pm next Tuesday, to mobilise opposition.

Parish councillor Alan Rule said: “The turbines will be a blot on the landscape of a beautiful and quiet rural area. They will be seen not only from within the Welton area, but far more widely in all directions.”

Objections from nearby residents have started to arrive at Allerdale House.

Christine Robinson, of Rosley, argues that there is already a turbine half a mile away at Chalkside.

She wrote: “People and politicians are now united against the creeping industrialisation of this county, which hitherto has been renowned for its natural beauty.”

Clive Marshall, of Curthwaite, wrote: “A structure of this size would dominate the local landscape and would be an alien, obtrusive, feature over a wide area.”

TGC Renewable has produced a planning and design statement in support of the planning application. It says the turbines will produce clean, renewable energy for the National Grid and provide extra income for the landowner. The impact on nearby homes – the nearest is more than 700 yards away – would be “low” or “negligible”

The statement includes photomontages, which TGC says show the turbines are not overly obtrusive and can be largely contained within the landscape. It also claims there will be no problems with noise or shadow flicker.

The statement concludes: “The proposal is acceptable in every regard.

“Any impacts identified are far outweighed by the economic and environmental benefits.”

Anti-windfarm campaigners protested at a Cumbria County Council meeting in Kendal last week. They are particularly worried about the cumulative effect of successive applications for one or two turbines.

Marion Fitzgerald, of the Friends of Rural Cumbria’s Environment, said: “Allerdale Council alone has already received nearly 30 wind-related planning applications this year.

“We are seeing an increase in single-turbine applications but most of these are well over the definition of small scale, typically ranging from 15m to 80m in height.

“If applications like these are granted, they will contribute greatly to an overall cumulative effect that is set to ruin our countryside, local amenity and tourist economy.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/24/more-turbines-will-ruin-the-landscape/