April 18, 2013
England

Protest over Caldbeck wind turbine plans

The Cumberland News | 18 April 2013 | www.cumberlandnews.co.ukThe Cumberland News | 18 April 2013 | www.cumberlandnews.co.uk

A protest group has objected to plans for two wind turbines near Caldbeck.

Applications for two 112ft turbines at Snowhill Farm were submitted to Allerdale Council, and a separate application has been made for two 150ft turbines near Silloth.

The Snowhill Farm application was entered by AAH Planning Consultants, a company based in London.

It was decided that the proposal should undergo an environmental impact assessment.

A statement submitted to the council on behalf of the applicants says: “The farm has reasonably high energy demands and the client wishes to use the available wind resource to ensure that they can diversify existing operations and run a sustainable enterprise.

“The applicant is attempting to reduce the carbon footprint of the farm through renewable energy production, using the proposed wind turbines to generate its own source of electricity.”

Protest group Friends of Rural Cumbria’s Environment (FORCE) said the turbines would have the potential to cause “severe adverse impacts’ to the landscape on both sides of the National Park boundary.

“FORCE is delighted to see that the council’s decision that this proposal constitutes an environmental impact assessment development has been upheld by the Secretary of State,” a statement issued by the group said.

A decision has yet to be made on the 150ft turbine application at The Close Farm, near Silloth.

Replying to consultation on the plans, a resident of nearby Rosley said: “There are already a number of wind turbines in this area, so cumulative impact must be a consideration regarding this application.

“Of further consideration must be the effects the proposed turbines would have on the lives of people unfortunate enough to have homes within sight of sound of them, and also the effects on wildlife, which are devastating.”

The applications come after it was revealed last week that campaigners would be fighting plans for three massive turbines near Rosley.

The 377ft tall structures would be more than twice the height of the Civic Centre in Carlisle if developed.

West Coast Energy have lodged the plans with Allerdale council.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/18/protest-over-caldbeck-wind-turbine-plans/