A big thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation on Allerdale's draft Local Plan. There was also some newspaper coverage to help us along. Hopefully enough responses have been generated to persuade policymakers to think very carefully about what will go into the next stage of the plan in terms of wind energy related development in the Borough.
Now a word about the present situation. We have recently topped 70 applications and/or screening requests for wind turbines in Allerdale just since the beginning of this year. Screening requests are usually submitted prior to full applications and are the means by which developers obtain details from Allerdale Borough Council as to what information will be required to accompany any subsequent proposal. Most of these applications and screening requests relate to single turbines but they are very nearly all well over the DECC definition of small scale typically ranging from 24m right up to 80m. Whilst we accept that not everyone feels the same about single turbines, many of these are going to be visible for miles around. In the quantities that are being applied for and at these heights, the situation is becoming critical. Fortunately, the majority of the applications have not yet been finalised and will almost certainly go to the Development Panel over the next few months where they will be discussed by councillors before a decision is made on them. This means that there is still an opportunity to object.
If you have a spare moment, we do urge that you browse the weekly application lists on Allerdale's website. They can easily be accessed on
It is very likely that you will soon come across an application that you feel deserves an objection! Allerdale's website frequently crashes overnight and at the weekend but please do not be deterred if you cannot see the lists right away. The fact is that we really do need to make the Council very aware that people have had enough of this bombardment by wind energy prospectors who, let's face it, are travelling round the Borough knocking on the doors of farms and small businesses and looking for the easiest places to put up their turbines simply because they want to cash in on the available subsidies. The motive behind this has in reality got very little to do with clean energy.
For example, Stern Wind, now preferring to be called Planning Consultations, has returned to Lane Head Farm, Boltongate, with a new application. Please refer to our Lane Head page for details.
Three wind applications will be heard by the Development Panel next Tuesday 14th August. This will take place at The Wave, Maryport from 1.00pm. A demonstration of public interest is very important in these cases. Your support would be most welcome if you are able to come to the meeting. If you are unable to do this, it is not too late to submit a last minute objection which would be added to the 'late additions list.' The links to the three applications are as follows:
Other more recent applications which are, to most people, unacceptable in terms of their size, scale and location, include this one at Prospect House, High Scales, where the turbine applied for is 67m high!
Also near Aspatria, this application for a 46m turbine at Broom Hill, Prospect:
And this application for three 100m turbines on land at Branthwaite, Workington, in an area which most people would consider had definitely already contributed quite enough in terms of wind energy development:
This is, of course, very far from an exhaustive list! As mentioned above, we do urge members to look at the weekly applications. We are getting to the stage now where, unfortunately, most of us are discovering that there is at least one live application in our neighbourhood. Success in this battle will only come if we support each other.
Please do contact us at FORCE if you would like any further information on what is happening in your area or if you would like advice or help to organise a local campaign.
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