March 12, 2014
England

People power set to topple Cumbrian turbine plan

By Jenny Barwise | News & Star | 12 March 2014 | www.newsandstar.co.uk

People power looks set to win as plans to build a highly controversial wind turbine near Cockermouth are likely to be refused.

Nearly 30 people living at Gilcrux, Tallentire, Bridekirk and Cockermouth have lodged “fierce” objections against Fine Energy Limited’s planned development at Gilcrux.

They say that the nearby land is already saturated with wind turbines and another will only add to the misery that they bring.

Next week Allerdale’s development panel is being urged by the authority’s planning officers to throw the plan for the 77m turbine out, who say that the “landscape and visual impact of the turbine would result in significant cumulative harm to the landscape.”

Last year villagers hit out after plans for a six 328ft turbines at Tallentire Hill were passed. The turbines have since been built and the experiences of this wind farm features in the majority of objectors’ letters.

Alan Bateman, who lives at Newton House, Gilcrux, said that the six “massive, ugly and very visually intrusive turbines” spoiled the rural tranquility of the area.

“Another turbine nearby will only exacerbate that intrusion,” he added.

Another objector, Roy Stenson of Bridekirk, near Cockermouth, said: “Being sited so close to the existing six wind turbines at Tallentire Hill farm can only have significant accumulation effect. It is a planning application by stealth coming so soon when the six at Hill Farm have only been on stream a few months.

“It also has visual impact from my home in Bridekirk, in addition to receptors at the local villages on Tallentire and Gilcux.”

And Lisa Fearon, of Highberry House, Gilcrux, said: “I fiercely object to yet another wind turbine being erected on or near Gilcrux – we have our fair share of them and it’s time that Allerdale listened to the communities who have to live with them.”

The three parish councils of Gilcrux, Bridekirk and Blindcrake are all “strongly” against the scheme.

Trevor Gear, clerk for Gilcrux parish council, said that the majority of the council are opposed to the application for three reasons. These being that the turbine will be visually overbearing, has potential to increase flooding experienced by some residents, and will increase blade flicker.

Allerdale’s development panel will meet on Tuesday afternoon.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/03/12/people-power-set-to-topple-cumbrian-turbine-plan/