September 21, 2012
England

Residents are united against wind turbines

By Duncan Bick | The Cumberland News | www.cumberlandnews.co.uk 21 September 2012

People living near land earmarked for some of Britain’s tallest wind turbines say they will “vociferously oppose” a renewed bid to build them.

Arthuret parish council reaffirmed its opposition to the proposals when it met on Monday.

Confirmation of its stance followed questions from members of the public, who held their own talks in the town on Saturday, as to whether anyone from the group would be attending and speaking out.

Six turbines, each of which would be about three times the height of Carlisle’s Civic Centre, have been earmarked for the site by energy firm REG Windpower at Hallburn Farm.

Eileen Naude, who organised Saturday’s meeting, told the members she was disappointed none of them had attended.

She then asked: “I was just coming to enquire of the parish council, are any of you going to the public enquiry?”

Mrs Naude then passed around copies of a presentation on the turbines, which illustrated their height and other details.

She also claimed homes drop in value when windfarms are put up near them.

“This is what we are being threatened with,” she added.

The proposed turbines are each 416ft (126m) high.

The city council rejected an application to put them up last August.

This decision followed objections from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

It claimed ‘seismic noise’ from the turbines could interfere with equipment at Eskdalemuir, near Langholm. This is a station which monitors nuclear tests under the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

But the company have appealed the decision, claiming ne technology will solve this problem.

Mrs Naude though said that because this wasn’t in the original planning application, a new one should be submitted.

She was joined by Will Tillotson, who also wanted to know if members would be attending the enquiry.

Parish councillors all said they were opposed to the proposal, and had submitted an objection when the application was first submitted.

Chairman Paul Brown said he had not attended the meeting because he had only found out about it two days before it took place. However, he reiterated his group’s feelings on the subject.

“The parish council is not in favour. We vociferously oppose it,” he added.

After a discussion, the members decided Karen Johnson, the parish clerk, will speak for the organisation at the meeting.

She will have two minutes to put their case forward.

Mr Brown also encouraged members to turn up to the sessions to show the group’s feelings.

This point was emphasised by Val Tarbitt, who represents the town on Cumbria County Council.She said: “It is important that you are heard and that you are seen.”

Ray Bloxham, city councillor for Longtown, said that many windfarms were being built as a result of subsidies that are available.

“You bet your life when this money runs out in 15 or 20 years’ time they [wind turbines] will stand there and go to rot,” he said.

The public enquiry into the development gets underway at the Civic Centre on Tuesday, October 2.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/21/residents-are-united-against-wind-turbines/