Farmers join wind farm fight

FARMERS HAVE joined the barrage of objections over plans to build one of Europe‘s biggest wind farms on moorland in Cumbria.

An inquiry into the development of the site at Whinash, north of Kendal, opened this week (w/c Arp 18) where 4290 letters of objection were received. There have been only 520 letters of support.

Chalmerston Wind Power has applied to build 27 turbines – each standing 115m (377ft) high – on moorland between Tebay and Shap.

Alan Mawson, whose farmhouse would overlook the turbines, has been a member of the action committee made up of local people from the villages of Orton and Tebay.

Donations – including one from a local benefactor – have raised almost £70,000 to fight the wind farm proposals.

“I‘m not against wind farms as a source of power but they must be sited where they won‘t impact on the landscape,” said Mr Mawson.

Farmers whose sheep graze the common land where the turbines could be sited have been offered cash payments by the power company.

“I‘m sure some hill farmers will look on the payments as a pension but I‘m still not in favour of the project and don‘t want an industrial site at my back door.”

Farmers against the scheme are concerned that the “bond” provided by the power company is insufficient to cover the costs of removing the turbines once they have outlived their usefulness.

“We need to know who will have to remove and dispose of them if wind power was no longer a viable option,” said Mr Mawson.

Environmental groups such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace are backing the proposal but Cumbria Tourist Board says the development will destroy the natural beauty of this wild corner of Cumbria.

The wind turbines will cover 7km (4.3miles) along a stretch of moorland that adjoins Shap Fell and is clearly visible from the M6 motorway.