Sunday, 9 August 2015
Saturday, 20 September 2014
Saturday, 19 July 2014
New Tools to Help Us Fight Inappropriate Wind Energy Development!
Please see our latest news page for details about the new Allerdale Local Plan!
Monday, 6 January 2014
High Pow Proposed Extension Withdrawn!
We are off to a good start for the New Year as the application for eight additional turbines at High Pow was withdrawn just before Christmas. The rather 'sour grapes' withdrawal letter is, at the time of writing, the last but one item on the following web page:
It makes interesting reading but our relief at this outcome must be tempered by the fact that REG are obviously planning to come back with a fresh proposal in the not distant future.
Friends of Rural Cumbria's Environment take this opportunity to thank everyone who submitted an objection to the application. If it had become a reality, it would have been disastrous for local residents in terms of visual intrusion, noise and shadow flicker, with a massively detrimental effect on the local landscape. It would have also been a major contributor to the cumulative impact of wind energy which we are currently experiencing in Allerdale.
The number of objections had topped 300 by the time the application was withdrawn, for which we are very grateful and appreciative. It really does make all the difference and we hope that we can count on our members' continued support when a new application to extend High Pow makes its appearance. We will of course circulate the information as soon as this happens.
Monday, 11 November 2013
High Pow Latest!
Firstly, many thanks to everyone who has written to Allerdale Borough Council objecting to the proposal to increase the size of High Pow Wind Farm from three turbines to eleven. There are now approximately 250 objections which can be viewed by following this link:
In addition to this, we have raised a petition of approximately 400 signatures which will be submitted to the Council in due course. The petition, once submitted, will be a powerful objection in its own right. It will, however, be counted only as one single objection.
That is why we request that, if you have added you name to the petition, you now take just a few minutes to submit an individual objection. This is very easy to do. Simply use the link above which will take you directly to the relevant page on the Council's website. Then, click where it says 'comment on application' and follow the instructions. Only a couple of sentences are necessary to sum up your objection. Don't forget to click on the box which confirms that you 'object' to the proposal.
Here are some ideas which you may wish to use in your objection:
· Landscape – perhaps you are of the opinion that an extension to the existing wind farm at High Pow would have a major negative impact on the landscape, significantly altering its rural character.
· Residential Amenity – many local residents are already suffering loss of amenity due to the three existing turbines as a result of noise and shadow flicker. The Council is still dealing with an outstanding noise complaint. Enlarging the wind farm will cause problems for more residents as well as worsening the discomfort of those who are already affected.
· Cumulative Impact – there can be no question that Allerdale now accommodates a large amount of wind energy development. A recent inquiry conducted by the Council has confirmed that Allerdale contains 62% of the onshore wind turbines in the county of Cumbria. Unsurprisingly, all of this development has now created a substantial cumulative effect. This applies to the number of turbines which are visible in particular views and also to the sequential cumulative impact which is experienced when travelling through the Borough. Adding a further eight turbines to the existing three at High Pow will obviously exacerbate the situation.
· Other Issues – Negative effects which you may wish to consider include the impact on wildlife and potential problems with surface water and television reception. In the emerging Local Plan, the Council has stated its ambition to foster and enhance the tourist economy. You may feel that this ambition is incompatible with the ongoing proliferation of wind turbines in the area.
Please do add any of your own individual concerns. It is important to stress that the benefits claimed by the developer would not outweigh the damage caused by the eight additional turbines.
Thursday, 22 August 2013
EIGHT MORE TURBINES PROPOSED!
The operator of the wind farm at High Pow has applied to Allerdale Borough Council to extend the wind farm with a further 8 turbines up to 100m tall. This would mean a major industrial development of 11 turbines at Bolton Low Houses, magnifying the effect of the existing turbines for all who live in the area.
We cannot let them take even more of our countryside from us. With your help, we believe that this development can be stopped, so please read on and find out how we can do this.
WE REALLY DO NEED YOUR HELP.
'THERE'S NO POINT. YOU CAN'T STOP THEM.'
This is something we have heard many times but it isn't necessarily true.
Recently more and more schemes have been refused at the highest level - even single turbines - and often this is because of the effect on the landscape, or the effect on residents, and ALWAYS it is because objections have been raised.
If you don't write to say that you object, they won't know. So it is very important to send even a brief objection to the Council. We can tell you how to do this. It does not have to be very technical. FORCE can give you pointers to issues which may have more bearing but a heartfelt letter from a genuinely concerned member of the public is ALWAYS worth writing.
Comments should be made to Allerdale Borough Council Planning Department. You can write to them or email or you can leave your comment on the planning website. These are the details you will need. Please do not rely on others to do this. It is important that we let the Council know how many people are opposed to this development. Your help is really appreciated.
Details of the application can be viewed on:
Contact details for your objection are as follows:
Email address: planning@allerdale.gov.uk
Postal address: Planning Department, Allerdale House, Workington CA14 3YJ
Please make sure to include the following reference number whether you write or email.
Ref: 2/2013/0519 High Pow Wind Farm
And be sure to clearly state that you OBJECT to the proposal.
Landscape
The landscape sensitivity/character is such that it cannot absorb this further development without major negative visual impacts when viewed locally and widely, from and towards the National Park. The proposed development would alter the character of the landscape from that of 'farmland with a wind turbine cluster' to 'an industrial wind farm landscape.' A major negative impact on the landscape and on the setting of the National Park.
Loss of Residential Amenity
Local residents are already suffering from loss of amenity by way of sleep disturbance from the noise of the existing turbines and visual problems such as flicker in their homes. Complaints have been made but with little avail. The proposed turbines will be closer to these properties and will affect more households over a wider area. The planning application seems to confirm that there will be MORE noise - this is unacceptable.
Cumulative Impact
Large areas of Allerdale now contain wind trubines and development is sprawling deeper and deeper into our much cherished countryside, encircling the National Park and blighting almost every view. Wherever there is a gap, there now seems to be a planning application and gradually Allerdale is becoming a wind energy landscape. This leads to an unacceptable change in the landscape character due to cumulative impact.
Other Issues
You may also have concerns about wildlife in the area being affected, or effects on local tourism. Tallentire residents have issues with surface water and TV reception which they believe is caused by the wind farm development. Please do add your own personal concerns and let the planners know that we do not want these turbines. It is important to stress that the benefits claimed by the developer will NOT outweigh the damage caused.
Thursday, 1 August 2013
FULL APPLICATION FOR EIGHT ADDITIONAL TURBINES RECEIVED!
A full application for eight additional turbines has been received by Allerdale Borough Council. The details are now available online. The application can be viewed by following this link:
Friends of Rural Cumbria's Environment have worked hard in recent years to offer help and advice to other groups who have found themselves facing inappropriate wind energy applications in Allerdale and beyond. We hope that we can now count on the support of those we have assisted.
If this application were to be granted, the impact on the landscape would be immense, affecting a considerable area of Allerdale as well as the views into and out from the Lake District and Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Please do not be put off by the number of documents which make up the application. It really isn't necessary to read them all. The main arguments against the scheme - apart from the misery that the existing three turbines are already causing to local residents - are surely the landscape impact and cumulative impact alongside Wharrels Hill, Tallentire and other schemes already operational or consented which are/will be visible from the application site itself or from nearby.
The simplest way to object is to click where it says 'comment on application,' fill in a few details and then write a sentence or two of objection. Don't forget to click on the box which confirms that you wish to object.
If you would prefer to write a little more, then it might be advisable to email the case officer, Rebecca Wilson, at planning@allerdale.gov.uk
Your comments can be sent as an attachment to the email.
The consultation end date is currently displayed as 19th August. Obviously with an application of this size, we will be allowed more time than this but it is nevertheless a good idea to get plenty of early objections in. The FORCE objection is currently being worked on and will be divided into several sections dealing with different aspects of the application.
Members of the same household can comment separately and please pass the information in this email on to everyone you think may be willing to object to this highly inappropriate and unacceptable scheme. This one must be defeated!
Wednesday, 19 June 2013
Deadline for comments on Allerdale Local Plan
Please see our latest news for details of how to comment on Allerdale's Local Plan. The consultation period will end on 12th July.
Plenty of public feedback is essential if we are to have robust local policy in place in Allerdale to help us combat inappropriate wind energy developments such as the one at High Pow!
Friday, 31 May 2013
High Pow Public Exhibition
Thanks to everyone who turned out in support at the Public Exhibition of the High Pow Extension, yesterday. The turnout was relatively low over the course of the day, but this didn't surprise me - I had spoken to some Boltons residents earlier in the morning who said they would not come as they were simply too upset by the proposal and others who simply felt they had heard it all before.
This is the state of play in Cumbria. Sadly, we HAVE seen and heard it all before.
How awful that so many people said they would have to move away if this proposal went ahead, meanwhile the developer refused to comment on existing complaints surrounding the current installation of three turbines, insisting that residents should use the `feedback forms to raise issues`.
The exhibition displayed some pretty damning photo montages, but other than that there was very little information available, we were expected to ask the question and they would then email us a response. Hardly what an exhibition is supposed to be, I would have thought. That said, the photo montages didn't pull any punches and seemed to give a fair representation of what they have in mind.
There was one gentleman who attended who did not seem particularly opposed to the scheme, but I didn't see anyone else who was of a similar opinion. The landowners involved did not attend.
It was, however, heartening to recieve so many supportive comments during the day, thank you for that, and to those who left contact details with a view to helping out, we will be in touch with you shortly.
Finally, a number of people asked about posters, so we have added a link to allow you to download and print these yourselves. Use the `downloads` link over on the right. Hopefully it will work okay, also, there is an option just above these links to register for updates - if you go to the page you want and enter your email address you will be informed when an update to that page is posted.
Thanks again
Sarah HR
Saturday, 25 May 2013
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