May 9, 2013
England

Plan for Barrow wind turbine comes under scrutiny

North West Evening Mail | 08 May 2013 | www.nwemail.co.uk

A large wind turbine could be built on the site of a former landfill site.

Energy company FCC Environment Limited wants to put up a single wind turbine at the former Bennett Bank Landfill Site.

Plans submitted to both Barrow Borough Council and Cumbria County Council reveal that a 90m turbine could be built at the Hawthwaite Lane site, just off the A590 between Barrow and Dalton.

Although the company has not formally submitted a request for planning permission, it has signalled the start of the process by registering a screening request to deem whether or not the proposals would be acceptable in principle.

A statement prepared as part of the application sets out the case for the plans. It says: “The development is for a single wind turbine, with a maximum blade-to-tip height of 90m.

“It is anticipated that the proposed turbine will have an installed generating capacity of up to 900kw and thus will contribute a small percentage of the national energy requirements.

“The construction phase of the development is anticipated to take a maximum of three months and the equipment will be in-situ for 25 years before being decommissioned and the site reinstated.”

The company has said that it will carry out a visual assessment of what effect the turbine would have on the area, within a 5km radius, if it moves forward with the plans.

The turbine would be situated 2.7km from Furness Abbey, but only 800m from the Grade II-listed Thwaite Flat Farmhouse.

Other reports, such as the effect noise or shadow flicker would have on the area, will be carried out if the plans moves forward.

The councils will now prepare a response to the report, before the company decides whether or not to push ahead with the plans.

Surrounding residents will not be consulted at this stage, but are likely to be contacted if and when a request for planning permission is submitted.

The borough council is also handling an application for plans for three 80kw turbines at Sinkhall Farm in Rakesmoor Lane, which is situated one mile from Bennett Bank.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/05/09/plan-for-barrow-wind-turbine-comes-under-scrutiny/