May 2, 2013
England

Public exhibition reveals true extent of Lower Alt wind farm plans

May 2 2013 by Jamie Bowman, Crosby Herald | www.crosbyherald.co.uk

Plans to build a huge wind farm between Lydiate, Formby and Ince Blundell have been unveiled at a series of public exhibitions.

Coriolis Energy, the company behind the development, held the exhibitions at Leverhulme Hall, in Great Altcar, Ince Blundell Village Hall and Lydiate Parish Hall.

The Berkshire-based energy firm are in the process of submitting plans to West Lancs Council to build 24 wind turbines each measuring up to 136.5m high on agricultural land close to Lower Alt.

Sefton Central Labour MP Bill Esterson was one of a number of political figures who voiced concerns over the scheme after viewing the plans.

Mr Esterson said: “When I attended the public exhibition, I could understand why people are worried.

“The energy company’s own graphic illustrations of the turbines show them dominating the Sefton landscape, visible from every corner of my constituency and beyond into the rest of Sefton, West Lancashire and even farther than that.

“Lots of people who attended the exhibitions have been shocked by the scale of the turbines.”

Lydiate parish councillor Tony Robertson agreed with Mr Esterson that the size of the proposals was a concern.

He said: “The before and after views of what the landscape would look like if the wind farm gets the go-ahead were particularly drawing attention and a few gasps.”

Coriolus Energy claim that each of the turbines would generate around 2.6MegaWatts – in total enough to provide power for around 25,000 houses.

Coriolus project manager, Vicky Portwain, said: “This development is at a very early stage and the design has not yet been fixed.

“What is driving this project is an urgent need for green energy but we need to balance this with protecting people’s concerns.

“We hope a final design and planning application will go in before the end of the year.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/02/public-exhibition-reveals-true-extent-of-lower-alt-wind-farm-plans/