Wingates NOT Wind Farms

Actively opposing the environmentally damaging wind farm proposals in the vicinity of Wingates

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Welcome to your site. 'Wingates Not Wind Farms' action group is set up to fight the proposals by Infinis (formerly Novera), BT plc and Res (UK) Ltd (among others) in their plans to build several wind farm sites which would dominate Wingates village and the surrounding area which borders on the popular National Park area of the Simonside Hills.

 
Our 3 key objectives are simple
 
  1. Protect Northumberland landscape
  2. Protect Northumberland people
  3. Protect Northumberland local businesses

 

Please register your support by signing our ongoing petition today! Click Here 

 

 
 
“In Northumberland alone, both heaven and earth are seen; we walk all day on long ridges, high enough to give far views of moor and valley, and the sense of solitude far below… It is the land of far horizons” GM Trevelyan
View from Simonside. Wingates lies in the centre. This stunning open view, which lifts the spirit of thousands of visitors, would be totally dominated by Infinis and BT turbines reaching up to approx the same height as this ridge.
How can anyone allow this to happen?
Latest News
 
 
East Wingates & Wingates Moor. BT
BT submitted a planning application for Wingates Moor in March 2011. A detailed objection was submitted by WNWF in August. The East Wingates Farm proposal is currently on hold, according to BT, although evidence suggests they are continuing to prepare an application. BT have now submitted further information in relation to the Wingates Moor application. Please see details of this further information here. However, please note that the validity of information from BT about the Wingates proposals cannot be relied upon and has previously been the subject of action by the Advertising Standards Authority. In particular, the projected views shown are highly misleading. To pick just one example at random, the view here is clearly taken with a 180 degree fisheye lens (despite the claim to show a 90 degree view) which is contrary to guidelines and gives a totally distorted view - 50 degree views should be used to approximate what the eye focuses on. Furthermore, the feet of the turbines appear to be positioned far in the distance from their proposed locations and the shot is taken by prominent foreground objects - again against the rules for fair visualisations. Ironically, the plans appear in a section purporting to be about "responsible business" and "protecting our environment". Local residents are invited by BT to comment on the plans however no letters have yet been issued by the Council inviting comments. Local residents were invited on 1 Dec to arrange a meeting to "discuss" "mitigation measures" that have been proposed. However no efforts have been made by BT to visit properties affected and no responses have been received from BT to requests for such meetings. (9/1/12) 
 
Wingates (Infinis, formerly Novera) Despite an overwhelming case against this development, the Northumberland County Council Planning Committee went against all reason and evidence and approved this highly environmentally damaging industrial development on 5 April 2011. However, it was subject to a number of conditions being met prior to commencement of any works.

Ever since approval was given we have been asking for updates from NCC and from Infinis themselves. Infinis have now updated their website to include an update and other relevant information. *Please note that we cannot vouch for the reliability of any information supplied by Infinis and past experience suggests that all statements made by the company should be questioned*

This website notes the establishment of a self-styled "Community Liaison Group". Apparently, Infinis have been holding secret meetings with Parish Councillors as far back as July 2011. This only came to light in November 2011. In the intervening time, Nunnykirk Parish Councillors made no communication with the community regarding the existence of the "Community Liaison Group" or of its discussions or of any of the news affecting the community.

Of most immediate significance from the minutes now published by Infinis is their intention to carry out an abnormal load road test this week. This involves a vehicle mocked up to represent a load carrying turbine components. It will travel from Port of Blyth to the proposed site. It will take place on 24th and 25th November between 9.30 & 3pm. Curiously, no direct communication has been made concerning this, despite the inconvenience it will cause. (21/11/11)

 

 

Fenrother

Take a moment to support the campaign at Fenrother, near Longhorsley here.

 

Energy Minister speaking in Newcastle calls for more turbines in the north

Chris Huhne's inability to understand the impact of huge industrial structures in rural areas has sparked local outrage. His intervention appears to have backfired, with an overwhelming majority of people responding to a Journal survey believeing turbines represent a blot on our landscapes

 

Wind turbines OK for Northumberland but not for Gloucestershire, says MP

A Gloucestershire MP has attracted media interest for opposing a wind farm in his constituency while planning one on his own land in Northumberland. His comments that the area is a "wilderness" where few people live and "isn't particularly attractive" reveal an alarming attitude. 

 

Local Action Groups

Opposition to wind developments in the north east is strengthening. Among active local action groups are Middle Hill, Middleton Burn and The Isles Communities .

  

Park Head/Rayburn Lake. RES(UK)
This application was due to be heard at a public enquiry commencing on 28 June 2011. However, in last-minute developments, RES(UK) initially requested an adjournment and then withdrew their application. Press coverage here.  

 

How Northumberland compares with other counties
An analysis suggests Northumberland is already more than doing its fair share in meeting renewables targets. See also the Journal article. (Updated 23 Feb 2011)
 
MPs debate onshore wind energy
Concerns about the number of proposals facing Wingates are raised in an interesting back bench debate.
(Updated 17 Feb 2011)
 

 Location of Wingates, Northumberland.
 

 

About Wingates Village
 
While we are vogorously opposing some developments in the area, we continue to hope that Wingates village and the surrounding farms and settlements will remain among the most scenic and tranquil areas of Northumberland. Wingates has a rich history and has been the subject of a National Park historic village atlas which you can view here. Explore the village on Google Streetview. Come and visit us at South Farm, Pele Cottage or Garret Lee Farm. If you like what you see then there are also a number of properties for sale.
 
Views from Simonside
 
Simonside is the most popular and highly valued area for walkers in the Northumberland National Park. It's attraction lies in the fact that it offers panoramic open views as below. The spirit of Simnonside will be destroyed by the building of 110m/ 360ft turbines in the foreground. On 7/12/09, the NNP ruled to formally object to a scheme at Wingates, just outside the park, stating that “the impact on the view from the national park will undoubtedly be significant, with the proposed turbines forming prominent features in the landscape". They said “the proposed development would result in the introduction of non-natural features which would be highly visible from within 5km of the proposed wind farm, which includes views from the Simonside Hills” and that “the wind farm would have an effect on the tranquillity of Simonside”. 
Yet in their summary for voting councilors who approved the scheme, NCC planners failed to mention this formal objection from a statutory consultee. Instead they concluded, in direct opposition to the NNP, that the development “would not have a significant adverse impact on the character of the wider landscape, including the National Park”. If you care about and value Simonside then contact us and let us know. 
  
The Scale of things
 
Should this be near a National Park?
This artists impression gives you a rough idea of the pure size of the proposed wind turbines in this area. The Angel of the North is 20m tall from base with a wing span of 54m. The proposed turbines are approx 127m to the highest tip of the blade. 
 
Keep fighting!

Thanks for your support and your continued donations. We need to continue to donate as we are going to need extra funds if as anticipated these plans go to appeal. Click here to find out how you can help.

 

 

 

 

Please send in reports of squirrels in gardens or elsewhere to RSNE - then developers can't get away with surveys saying there aren't any when you know you see them regularly

 

360 degree panorama from the boundary between the Infinis and BT sites with Simonside, Cheviot, Druridge Bay, Pontop Pike, Cross Fell, Skiddaw (into the sun). For full image see here . For projected visibility of the wind turbines see here, p.7  

 

Simonside and the Cheviots from the approved Infinis wind farm site just outside the Northumberland National Park