WIND FARM OPPOSITION STRENGTHENED

By Martin Walker

New figures have revealed that County Durham already has the second highest number of wind farms in England – before E.ON’s controversial bid for a 24-turbine cluster near Newton Aycliffe.

Campaigners fighting against the new application, including our MP Phil Wilson, say the county has played its part already.

The second phase of consultation for the controversial wind farm, between Aycliffe and Bowburn next to the A1 motorway, gets under way today.

Before E.ON’s application, the county already has 69 operational turbines in an area of 1,033 square miles, second only to Cornwall, which has a total of 94 turbines in 1,376 square miles.

Mr Wilson, MP for Sedgefield, said: “If it was just 17 wind turbines in the area, then I think it wouldn’t be a problem.

“I’m not against wind farms totally, but I do think we’re getting application after application, and the impact on the local landscape is getting desperate.

“There’s an accumulation of wind farms in one area. If E.ON application gets the go-ahead, you’re going to have three big wind farms in the same electoral ward, and I just think it’s too many.

“22% of our energy needs come from renewable energy and that’s one of the best records in the country – we’ve played our part.

“My view is if everyone wants to share the benefit of renewable energy, we also have to share the burden.”

Mr Wilson was speaking to the BBC Politics programme on Sunday – click here to see a snippet of his interview in our Video Vault

Taking into account developments in the planning and construction stages, County Durham remains the top three in the country for wind farms, after the South and East ridings of Yorkshire, with 111 turbines.

For campaigners fighting to stop the The Isles, the figures – obtained from Renewables UK and revealed in today’s Northern Echo – add further justification to their cause.

Susan Fox, from The Isles Communities Turbine Action Campaign (Tictac), said it was disgraceful the county should be expected to house even more wind farms.

She told the Echo: “County Durham is doing more than its fair share and when you see the statistics you realise how bad it is.”

A spokeswoman from E.ON said the company had examined cumulative impact when carrying out environmental assessments.

She said the Secretary of State would also consider this when deciding whether to approve the scheme, adding: “If we can’t put together an acceptable application then consent will not be granted, which is why we need to work with the local community, local authorities and statutory bodies to develop an acceptable scheme.

“We know that people have strong views about wind farms, and some believe that there are already too many in the local area. We believe this is a good site for a wind farm and the Isles will help us meet the UK’s renewable energy targets.”

E.ON initially proposed building 45 turbines but, following the first round of consultation, the application was changed to two clusters of seven and 17 turbines located more than a mile apart.

Consultation events take place in Chilton and Windlestone Workingmen’s Club, on Tuesday, from 4pm to 8pm; in Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, next Thursday, from 1pm to 8pm; Sedgefield Parish Hall, on July 13, from 10am to 2pm; Mordon Village Hall, on July 13, from 4pm to 8pm; Chilton and Windlestone Workingmen’s Club, on July 14, from 9am to 2pm.

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