July 19, 2014
England

Seaton protest launched against Iggesund turbines plan

Times & Star | 18 July 2014 | /www.timesandstar.co.uk

Seaton residents have launched a major campaign against a plan for three new wind turbines at the nearby Iggesund Paperboard site.

The company, which is one of the area’s biggest employers, is investigating the potential for putting turbines and ancillary infrastructure on land at its Workington mill.

It will hold a meeting on Wednesday at Seaton Village Hall from 3pm to 7pm to present its ideas and take questions and comments.

Councillors Julie Norman and Celia Tibble immediately started a petition against the turbines after seeing a public notice published in the Times & Star last week.

They will present the petition at a parish council meeting next week and to representatives of Iggesund at the public meeting.

A spokesman for Iggesund did not wish to comment on its ideas for the site.

But a spokeswoman for Allerdale council confirmed that pre-application conversations had already taken place with Iggesund, which has committed itself to a green energy strategy following the opening of its biomass plant.

No details have been revealed about the scale of the new turbines.

Coun Norman said: “I hope they are not going to hold our community to ransom if they do not get the go-ahead to build the turbines.

“It could be a case that they have to cut jobs if they do not get approval and no one wants that to happen.

“We think that the turbines will be going on the land that Iggesund owns behind the site, which is close to Seaton.

“The people of Hunter’s Drive and estates in that area will really suffer from flicker effect and noise.”

Coun Tibble said: “I am not against wind turbines but these could overshadow the whole village.

“We are a large village of approximately 5,000 people and the proximity to the village is far too close.

“It would be like putting turbines in Vulcan Park in Workington.”

Seaton resident Joe Taylor, 61, of Hazel Grove, said: “I have seen many changes in the village but we don’t want any more turbines.”

Glenis Jones, 63, of Barncroft Avenue, said: “I’m totally against it. The area is saturated with turbines.”

The petition will be available to sign at the petrol station on Main Road and Poundsaver Ltd in Hunter’s Drive, Seaton, until tonight.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/07/19/seaton-protest-launched-against-iggesund-turbines-plan/