September 28, 2012
England

Wind taken out of residents’ sails as they dread arrival of 303ft turbine

Times & Star | www.timesandstar.co.uk 28 September 2012

“Visitors come round and say ‘what a gorgeous view – apart from those turbines’,” says 72-year-old Jan Mumberson who has lived in her Seaton home for 10 years.

Mrs Mumberson, of Hazel Grove – like many of her neighbours – believes wind turbines have spoilt the views in Seaton.

No fewer than 36 of the giant white structures surround the village.

Seaton once had uninterrupted views across the Solway coast and the Lake District fells, but now turbines dominate.

Looking out from Hazel Grove, 18 turbines can be seen along the Solway coast and the same number can be seen from Derwent Bank looking towards Stainburn.

Wind turbine number 37 will be built at Wythegill Syke after a government inspector ruled on appeal last week that Airvolution Energy can build the 303ft structure.

Glenis Jones, 61, of Barncroft Avenue, can see two from her back garden and the latest turbine would tower above them both.

She said: “I think we are saturated with turbines and I don’t think it will stop with this one.

“They are just walking all over people and they can just get away with it.

“Cumbria is just a dumping ground for everything. They just think Cumbrians will sit down and take it.

“I just think it’s atrocious. I have been in this house for 20 years.

“Before it was lovely, you could look out over the Solway but now all you see is turbines.”

Derek Ritson, 74, of Lowca Lane, has lived at his house for 48 years with his wife Rebecca, 71, and during sunset in the summer they claim they are plagued by a flickering effect from the sun hitting the blades of a turbine at the back of their house.

Mr Ritson said: “It’s just annoying. Anyone suffering from epilepsy could have a seizure.

“I personally think they are an absolute waste of time. They are standing still most of the time.

“All they are doing now is putting bigger and bigger ones in.”

Trevor Fee, parish councillor, believes that Allerdale has got more turbines than anywhere else in Cumbria.

He said: “This area has got too many. It’s becoming a blight on the views around Seaton.

“The first turbines were on Siddick Road.

“There wasn’t a lot of objection back then because it was thought it would be better than big factories pumping smoke out.

“The Government said we needed turbines because they were environmentally friendly.

“Seaton is surrounded by wind turbines. Enough is enough.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/28/wind-taken-out-of-residents-sails-as-they-dread-arrival-of-303ft-turbine/