August 19, 2014
England

Road blockade threat in Haverigg prison land turbines row

North West Evening Mail | 18 August 2014 | www.nwemail.co.uk

Residents have vowed to block a private road with cars to prevent lorries needed to build five wind turbines.

A planning application for the site at HMP Haverigg was recommended for refusal after a vote of nine against one at a Copeland Borough Council panel meeting last month.

The 25-year operation would be constructed on land belonging to HMP Haverigg off North Lane, on a former airfield adjacent to an existing windfarm.

David Amos, 70, of Combe View, Haverigg, said he and neighbours who live in the road will block lorries from the site if it is given the go-ahead.

Combe Road is private and owned by residents. They have said applicant Partnership For Renewables does not have a right to access through their road.

Mr Amos said: “If they try to come through our private road we are going to block the road by putting our cars there so they can’t get through with their big lorries.

“Unless they get a court order saying they can come through our private road then we won’t let them.”

Mr Amos has estimated lorries would need to pass through the village more than 200 times with their loads for concrete alone.

He added: “It will mean a massive change to residents’ life.

“We will be affected for the next 25 years if it goes ahead.”

He was also concerned the noise of the wind farm would cause prisoners to riot.

It had been revealed in July’s planning meeting that prisoners were not invited to participate in the consultation period of the application.

Mr Amos added: “The prisoners won’t keep quiet if they’re unhappy and they won’t be happy if they can’t sleep. It’s a human rights issue.”

A spokeswoman for Ministry of Justice said: “The responsibility of who to consult on planning application lies with the local council. We do not make a decision on who is consulted.”

Applicant John Mills, of PFR, said: “At the end of the day they’re not residents, they’re prisoners. They don’t get a vote either, so they don’t get to be consulted on matters like this. They’re in prison. They’ve lost their rights.”

The application which had been recommended for approval by the planning officer, but knocked back by panel members last month, is due to be debated on September 10.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/08/19/road-blockade-threat-in-haverigg-prison-land-turbines-row/