July 21, 2015
England

Renewed wind turbine ambitions for local farm revealed

The Garstang Courier | 21 July 2015 | www.garstangcourier.co.uk

A new wind turbine could challenge Dewlay’s current domination of the Garstang skyline … after Lancaster firm Clenergy revealed it may submit plans for a 130 metre high wind turbine at neighbouring Cross House Farm.

If approved, the proposed wind turbine would be sited not far from the 126 metre Dewlay Cheesemakers’ wind turbine which was commissioned in late 2010 – and is now a local landmark off the A6.

Clenergy says it is investigating the feasibility of submitting application and has contacted local households seeking comment and would welcome feedback on its plans via its website www.crosshousewindturbine.co.uk

It is not the first time permission has been sought to establish a wind turbineon the site. A previous application by Wind Direct was turned down in September 2012. Approval was refused by Wyre Council following an objection from the Ministry of Defence and concerns about interference with radar communications.

But Clenergy, which would make the application on behalf of landowners Walter and Jean Parkinson, says the local circumstances have changed significantly in the past few years, following a development at Eagland Hill, Pilling and approval would mean the farmers could diversify. It argues the new turbine will provide direct local benefit, claiming: “Since the planning refusal in late 2012 a two turbine project at Orchard End has become operational. The proposed turbine would sit between Dewlay and Orchard End, therefore not increasing the impact upon aviation in the Wyre area.”

The turbine would, it says, bring both environmental and economic benefits to the area and could generate annually the equivalent of the 800 households’ electricity. A local community trust fund providing a minimum of £37,500 to the local community over the project’s lifetime would be set up.

Wyre Council refused the earlier application because: “The proposed turbine will be 18.2 km from, in line of sight to, and will cause unacceptable interference to the Air Traffic Control (ATC) at Warton Aerodrome, which will have a detrimental impact on the

performance of the MOD ATC and Range Control radars, specifically the desensitisation of radar and the creation of ‘false’ aircraft returns which air traffic controllers must treat as real.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/07/21/renewed-wind-turbine-ambitions-for-local-farm-revealed/