March 24, 2013
England

National charity voices objection to Killington windfarm plan

By Steven Bell, Senior Reporter | The Westmorland Gazette | 23 March 2013 | www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk

The Open Spaces Society has added its voice to opposition to plans to build a new windfarm at Killington.

It has described proposals by Banks Renewables for three 135-metre turbines on land between the A684 and M6 as ‘damaging’.

The national charity, which campaigns to protect common land and public rights of way, is backing calls by Friends of Eden, Lakeland and Lunesdale Scenery (FELLS) for the scheme to be rejected when it goes before South Lakeland planners later this year.

Kate Ashbrook, Open Spaces Society general secretary, said: “The turbines will be a severe intrusion in this lovely area, abutting the boundary of the proposed extension to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and highly visible from the superb Howgill Fells.

“This is an immensely popular region for recreation. People roam the hills and enjoy the peace, tranquillity and unspoilt views. The turbines and the associated paraphernalia would seriously conflict with the special qualities of the area.

“The cumulative effect of the turbines in the vicinity makes the current application all the more deplorable, amounting to suburbanisation of wild country.

“So we have urged the council to reject this application which would be extremely damaging to the landscape, people’s enjoyment, and the tourism industry of the area.”

South Lakes Action on Climate Change is in favour of the development.

The group has previously said that the Lake District’s ecology is ‘significantly affected’ by climate change and windfarms were one way of helping secure Britain’s energy security.

Phil Dyke, Banks Renewables development director, said: “A great deal of careful planning has gone into creating an environmentally-suitable and efficient design for what we believe is an excellent location for this type of development.

“Generating more of the energy that we all use from renewable sources is one of the biggest challenges facing us in the coming decades, and we hope that South Lakeland District Council will recognise the contribution that the Killington scheme can make towards meeting it.”

Banks has created a so-called ‘community benefits fund’, worth £675,000 over 25 years, it said would pay for improved broadband for homes and businesses and help cut fuel bills.

The company has also pledged to create up to 50 jobs through £4m worth of construction, security, accommodation and catering contracts.

And it said the windfarm would supply electricity to 8,100 homes annually, taking 14,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/24/national-charity-voices-objection-to-killington-windfarm-plan/