June 27, 2013
England

Turbine plan sparks strong local objections

By Andrew Clarke | 27 June 2013 | www.in-cumbria.com

Strong local objections have been launched against a proposed wind turbine near Frizington.

A 70m-high turbine planned for farmland in Winder would be “a blot on the landscape,” say the objectors, and would have a “significantly detrimental effect on tourism”.

The objections were aired at a meeting of Lamplugh Parish Council last week, in which representatives of NEO-Environmental, the applicant’s agents, presented the turbine proposal.

Following concerns raised by members of the public and councillors, the parish council unanimously voted against the proposal and will forward its objection on to the decision-makers at Copeland Council.

Coun Wilf Richardson said: “West Cumbria has reached a saturation point for wind turbines; enough is enough.

“They bring nothing of value to an area, compared with the visual blight imposed.”

Council chairman Paul Price added: “The detrimental visual impact on the area far outweighs any benefits.

“It is the thin end of the wedge and would open the floodgates to more applications in the same area.”

On the back of the public meeting, a local protest group was formed whose spokesperson, Richard Wilson, of Winder Brow, said: “This will ruin the view of the Ennerdale Valley going outwards, and will be visible from the shores of Ennerdale Lake this way.”

Mr Wilson is gathering support for a petition that will be forwarded to Copeland Council ahead of its decision.

He added further concern about the proposed turbine’s proximity to Eskett Quarry and two other redundant quarries nearby which, it has been stated during a previous planning process, must be allowed to become a nature reserve once the quarrying has ended.

The meeting heard from NEO that the applicant intends to offer a one-off sum of £50,000 to local parishes to compensate for the disruption and negative impacts. The firm adds that a full range of surveys and assessments has been completed.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/27/turbine-plan-sparks-strong-local-objections/