Following the refusal last month of the application for an 80m wind turbine at Boltongate, we continue to wait for REG and Your Energy to announce the dates of their public exhibitions in respect of the extension to High Pow Wind Farm and Little Waver Wind Farm respectively.
In the meantime, FORCE has compiled a list of the wind energy related proposals received by Allerdale Borough Council since the beginning of this year. Almost thirty such proposals have already been submitted in this period of just three and a half months.
Admittedly these are not all full applications for wind turbines. Some of them are requests for screening opinions. This is where the developer seeks the Council's advice as to whether or not a full Environmental Impact Assessment would be required if a wind energy scheme were to installed in a particular location. Some of the applications are for anemometry masts which, as we know, tend to be the precursors to wind turbines.
Many of the applications are for single turbines. But nearly all of these are well in excess of the Department for Energy and Climate Change definition of small scale. The DECC definition describes a small scale wind turbine as being approximately 15m tall with a capacity of up to 100kW. Current applications are typically for single turbines which are anything from between 25 to 80m in height, with an output which ranges from below 100 to up to 500kW.
Our concern is that so many single turbines could well result in a landscape in which wind energy related development will become the dominant feature to the detriment of our countryside, local amenity and, undoubtedly, the tourist economy. A quick glance at the weekly application lists on Allerdale's website will soon reveal the alarming pace at which these applications are pouring in!
And this is just Allerdale! Whilst it is true that over the years Allerdale has received more wind energy applications than the other Cumbrian boroughs, there is no question that the proliferation of wind farms is a problem which is affecting the whole of the county. The developers are showing an increased interest even within the Lake District National Park boundaries.
About a year ago the Cumbria Wind Watch website was set up in a bid to join forces against wind turbines in Cumbria.
It is time now to strengthen that position with a press release and a statement to be presented to Cumbria County Council on 19th April. This is not intended to be a hostile event. CCC have generally supported initiatives to protect the landscape from wind farms. We want to show that the more people are affected by wind turbine applications, inquiries and construction – the more opposition there is to them. So by opposing wind turbines, councillors are reflecting the wishes of the population and protecting the landscape, livelihoods, the tourist economy and our right to enjoy our homes.
Members of every wind farm opposition group in the county are invited to this event. We will gather outside County Hall, Kendal, at 9am in advance of the meeting of Cumbria County Council which is to be held at 10am. Please see link below for location details.
If it is at all possible for you to attend and lend support on this occasion, your presence will be greatly appreciated. This is a crucial year for Cumbria. If nothing is done to stem the tide, it is likely that we will soon all be living in a place that looks very different from the Cumbria we know and love. It is of the utmost importance to show our County Council the strength of opposition to uncontrolled wind energy development in this beautiful county.
If you are unable to attend, you may wish to consider contacting your local County Councillor, or indeed the leader of the Council Eddie Martin, to show your support for the action. The councillor for your area can be found via the above link. Simply click on the word 'councillors' on the menu to the left of the screen.
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