March 3, 2015
England

South Charlton wind turbine plans facing refusal as dog joins objectors

By Brian Daniel | The Chronicle | 2 March 2015 | www.chroniclelive.co.uk

Plans for a 100m wind turbine close to two major wind farms and the A1 look set to be thrown out, after widespread opposition both human and canine.

Proposals have been submitted to Northumberland County Council for a generator with a maximum tip height of 100m, on behalf of a farmer near Alnwick.

The site is a short distance from 18 turbines at Middlemoor and ten at Wandylaw, all 125m high, and is close to the A1.

A total of 69 letters of objection have been submitted to the county authority, while local parish councillors and guardians of the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are also opposed.

The letters of objection include one from Northumberland and Newcastle Society (NNS) and another from a Lord Percy Norfolk, who appears to be a dog.

Fourteen letters of support have been penned, yet county councillors are being recommended to refuse.

The application for land East of South Charlton, is from Redpath Energy Ltd on behalf of farmer Martin Beal.

Objections came in from Eglingham Parish Council and the Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership.

The letters include that of Lord Percy Norfolk, who gives his address as the local recycling point at South Charlton Village Hall.

It states: “This proposal for yet another gigantic lamppost in my back yard makes me barking mad and feel like biting the ankles of anyone associated with it.

“The best I can say is at the first opportunity I shall cock my leg in contempt against it and all similar erections. Now, where did I leave that bone?”

Among the human letter writers was the NNS, whose member David Biesterfield lives at Eglingham and is part of an action group fighting plans for another nine turbines in the area.

He said: “This is not a stance taken in denial orf climate change or against the principle of renewable energy and the reduction of carbon emissions.

“What it is against is the erosion of the landscape interests of North Northumberland.

“Turbines are the wrong answer in the wrong place. You can see them for miles and miles, they are really one of the worst examples of policy madness.”

The county council’s planning committee is being recommended to refuse when it meets on Tuesday.

Spokesman for the applicants Ian Brown disputed a number of points from the council’s report on the application.

He added: “Martin Beal wishes to diversify his farm away from a reliance on agricultural commodities in favour of a more stable secondary income.

“The government has encouraged farmers to diversify and has encouraged wind developers to invest and build wind farms but now appears to be giving some mixed messages about onshore wind.

“The Beal family have farmed the land for nearly 100 years and were lucky enough to buy the farm a few years ago.

“So unlike their neighbours (some of which are objecting) Martin will get the full benefit of the income rather than it going to an absentee landlord.

“They are also likely to be badly affected by the dualling of the A1 which finishes just north of their farm.

“The Middlemoor and Wandylaw wind farms next door were passed on appeal and it seems strange that the AONB and others have put in stronger objection now than then, the issue of where the influence of the AONB begins and ends is exercised by this application.

“Martin feels he wants me to speak on the night as this has created a split in the community with 69 people objecting… well 68 if you take the dog out of the equation. Many of the human protestors also seem to live in faraway places.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/03/03/south-charlton-wind-turbine-plans-facing-refusal-as-dog-joins-objectors/