January 10, 2015
England

County council opposes plan for giant wind turbines at factory

News & Star | 10 January 2015 | www.newsandstar.co.uk

A controversial bid to build three wind turbines taller than Big Ben at a manufacturing site has been opposed by county planning chiefs.

Iggesund Paperboard’s application to build the 110m-high turbines at its Siddick plant at Workington has been objected to by Cumbria County Council’s development control and regulation committee.

The county council was consulted over the matter, but Allerdale ocuncil will make the final decision. A petition against the plan has attracted hundreds of applications and scores of people have lodged objections.

The county council’s planning department recommended councillors object on the grounds of adverse impact on the landscape, visual effects and the cumulative effects of turbines across the area.

Councillors, who met in County Hall, Kendal, agreed.

Councillor Bert Richardson, who represents Greystoke and Hesket, said: “I think the time has come and we say ‘Enough, enough, enough’.

“In west Cumbria, I think it’s deplorable how they have decimated a whole section of the county. There are a lot of attractive areas there and I think this should be thrown out on the grounds of visual impact and cumulative effect.”

Councillor Gerald Humes, who represents Moss Bay and Moorclose, said: “I think it’s laughable, this. The people of Seaton deserve better, they really do, and I would strongly object.”

The applicant has estimated the turbines would power around 4,990 homes a year with renewable energy, offsetting the emission of 8,895 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

In the report for the meeting, the council’s historic environment officer highlighted potential effects on heritage assets, notably the Hadrian’s Wall world heritage site – a factor which worried Councillor Roger Bingham, who represents Lower Kentdale.

He said: “Quite apart from the visual impact they may or may not have, I’m concerned about the proximity of the Hadrian’s fort site. It’s very important historically and architecturally and they are very close.”

Committee chairman Alan Clark, who represents Dearham and Broughton, said: “They have hit us with windmills and solar panels are going to be next. People in west Cumbria are starting to say ‘Enough is enough’.

“We will have to treat every application as any other application and we can’t say we are for or against, because we’ve got to deal with applications in a fair manner.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/01/10/county-council-opposes-plan-for-giant-wind-turbines-at-factory/