March 14, 2013
England

Fears over 450ft-high giant wind turbines plans in Sefton

Mar 14 2013 by Tom Duffy, Liverpool Echo | www.osadvertiser.co.uk

A proposal has been put forward to build a string of wind turbines – each the height of Liverpool’s St John’s Tower – across a swathe of land on the edge of Sefton.

The plan is to build 24 turbines, two or three masts, access tracks, a substation and infrastructure in Great Altcar – on land between Formby, Lydiate and Ince Blundell.

The turbines will be a maximum height of 450 feet and the hubs are expected to reach 270 feet.

The turbines would be a similar height to those at the docks near Kirkdale.

Hyder Consulting (UK) Limited has submitted a report on behalf of Falck Renewables to West Lancashire Borough Council.

The windfarm scheme falls just within West Lancashire Borough council’s border with Sefton.

And Sefton council is among those raising concerns about the scheme.

Their letter states that the proposed windfarm is near a number of European protected sites including Martin Mere and the Simonswood Moss pink-footed Goose roost.

And local residents protest that the windfarm will be a blot on the landscape affecting Ince Blundell, Hightown, Little Altcar, Formby, Lydiate and Sefton Village.

Ian Cowell, from Ince Blundell, claimed the windfarm will also affect the microlight strip at Ince Blundell and pointed out that it is on the flight path to RAF Woodvale.

And he warned that helicopters landing at Altcar Rifle Range could also be affected.

Mr Cowell pointed out there are a number of heritage sites near the site including Ince Blundell hall and park, Sefton church, 430 listed buildings, the Sefton coast site of special scientific interest and the Alt estuary special protection area.

And he added: “The construction of the windfarm will increase the volume of traffic through Hightown and Formby. That is also a consideration.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/14/fears-over-450ft-high-giant-wind-turbines-plans-in-sefton/