July 31, 2015
England

Objections to Iggesund turbines plan

Times & Star | July 31, 2015 | www.timesandstar.co.uk

Claims that a Workington factory’s plans for two 360ft wind turbines were motivated by profit have been disputed by its bosses.

Seaton Parish Council is objecting to the proposals by Iggesund Paperboard at Siddick.

Paul Bramley, town clerk, said: “The council is objecting to the proposals. It has noted in the past that the biomass plant was said to provide sufficient power to enable the Iggesund plant to operate and so the turbines were not needed for this purpose, which was what Iggesund originally stated when it applied for the turbines some years ago.”

Councillors objected because they said they feared the development was motivated purely by profit, as stated in their initial response to the plans last October.

But Jonny Lowe, head of human resources at the firm, said: “The turbines aren’t purely for the benefit of our shareholders. As a large employer in the area, we’re looking at improving our environmental impact and finding new sustainable ways of producing renewable energy.”

Iggesund Paperboard applied last year to Allerdale council for three wind turbines to be installed on the site, but revised its application from three to two turbines in June.

The plans from three to two wind turbines were amended because the firm said it could not prove to Natural England that one of the turbines could not cause disturbance to the birds at the nearby Siddick Ponds.

Consultation on the new plans closed this week.

The amended plan received 35 letters of objections. The original proposal generated a 300-name petition of objection and 87 letters against the scheme.

The parish council also noted that the proposed development was within the 800m limit set by Allerdale’s planning policy on wind turbine development and homes.

A decision is due to be made soon by Allerdale council.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/07/31/objections-to-iggesund-turbines-plan/