| National stories The Journal 1st March 2010 Government rulings which turned down two rural wind farm developments could give planners in the region greater authority to refuse future inappropriate proposals. Officers at Northumberland County Council said the rejection of the schemes would have implications for future applications in the area.In a report to go before the council tomorrow, they also raise hopes the decision will force developers to acknowledge the need to protect the county's historic environment when shaping schemes.Anti-wind campaigners in Northumberland last night welcomed the council's statements, but cast doubt on how much input the authority will have into final decisions on any proposals. The council was reacting to the recent decision of the secretary of state for communities and local government John Denham to refuse two wind farm bids near Berwick, and allow a third. The refused scheme at Toft Hill was kicked out because of impact on cultural heritage, owing to the proximity of the proposed turbines to the Duddo Standing Stones. The other rejected project, Moorsyde, was thrown out because the engines would exceed noise levels and ruin views of the surrounding landscape, including the Cheviot hills. The council has prepared a report outlining how the secretary of state's findings will impact on its decision-making when handling applications. The document drafted by planning officers says the council must take into account the weight given by the secretary of state to landscape and cultural heritage issues. It adds: "In particular the Toft Hill decision which recognised the unacceptable harm that would be caused by the development to the setting of the nationally important and scheduled Bronze age site of the Duddo Stone Circle is welcomed. 'It is hoped that the Toft Hill decision will assist in ensuring that developers take sufficient account of the need to protect the historic environment of the county in the design and location of wind farm schemes." The report, which goes before the council's planning and environment committee on Tuesday night, also says the council must consider the importance given by the secretary of state to noise issues. It furthermore states the authority must take heed of the significant weight attached to the "need for and the wider benefits of wind energy developments". The report adds: "Careful consideration should also be given to the secretary of state's comments in respect of the very substantial shortfall which currently exists between Northumberland's targets for wind energy development and its predicted installed capacity for 2010. "In this respect members should be mindful of the latest UK target of 30% of energy generated by renewables set out in the Renewable Energy Strategy." Last night, John Thompson, chairman of the Wingates not Wind Farms Action group, which is opposing five potential wind farms around the hamlet, welcomed the council's stance. But he said the authority is unlikely to have the final say on any wind farm proposals as in most cases they are decided by the government. And where this happens, Mr Thompson claimed, the views of the council are not always heeded. He said: "It is good that the council are not just responding to things they are actively taking the lead on certain issues. "It is not the council that is making the decisions at the end of the day. "The local authority is continuing to object to these schemes but it is a concern that they do not seem to be taken notice of when it is going to the final hearing. "Anything that the council bring up as a possible further point of objection is welcome, I just hope that those that make the final decision take notice of it." Mr Thompson voiced concern about the council's statement that members should be mindful of the 30% renewable energy target. "I am just a bit concerned that they will be looking to meet this target rather than talking about the actual planning application. Duke of Northumberland delivers blast on the wind debateNov 30 2009 by Dave Black, The Journal THE Duke of Northumberland has stoked up the fierce debate over wind energy development in the North East by launching a withering attack on the impact of massive turbines on the region’s unspoiled countryside. In a personal intervention which will delight wind farm opponents, the Duke has branded turbines as "ugly, noisy and completely out of place in our beautiful, historic landscape". He reveals he has rejected approaches to put turbines on land owned by his own Northumberland Estates business wing – and says the structures are divisive, unreliable and potentially damaging to the vital tourism industry. The Duke – who has an estimated personal fortune of £300m and owns 100,000 acres of land and more than 100 tenanted farms in the region – made his comments after being accused in The Journal’s letters pages of being silent on the issue of wind farms. He has gone public via The Journal amid fears that local moorlands and hills could be carpeted by up to 250 wind turbines if plans by green energy developers win approval in the next few years. The 12th Duke, whose family is celebrating 700 years at its ancestral home, Alnwick Castle, says he and his forebears have opened quarries and mines and built offices, schools, supermarkets and houses – some of which he admits have provoked local opposition. He says he has privately stated his opposition to wind farm developments, and personally written to councillors to make his position clear. "There are no wind farms on my family estate and I have repelled all requests to apply for them. I have studied the debate, arguments and statistics and come to the personal conclusion that wind farms divide communities, ruin landscapes, affect tourism, make a minimal contribution to our energy needs and a negligible contribution towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions. "The landowner and developer are enriched, while the consumer is impoverished by higher energy costs. Turbines are ugly, noisy and completely out of place in our beautiful, historic landscape." The Duke dismisses suggestions that he is an influential voice on the issue, but adds: "If my personal opinion has any effect on diminishing the threat from vast industrial machines in our landscape, I will be delighted." Two years ago bosses at the Alnwick Garden tourist attraction – which was the brainchild of the Duchess of Northumberland – were among the leading objectors to plans to build 18 turbines, each 125 metres high, at Middlemoor, north of Alnwick. Yesterday Nick Blezard, from the Save Northumberland’s Environment (SANE) group, which opposed wind farms at Middlemoor and Wandylaw, welcomed the Duke’s comments. "Obviously SANE thoroughly applauds and is very grateful for his support, and cannot help but completely agree with what he is saying. "It stands to reason that someone who lives in Northumberland and the Borders, and parts of whose businesses rely very much on tourism, would take this stance. I am sure his comments are helpful because he is a very influential person, as is the Duchess, and owns considerable tracts of land. "It is interesting that none of the wind farms being proposed are on land owned by the Duke. He could make a lot of money from wind turbines but he is clearly a lover of the countryside and doesn’t want these things." The wind energy industry was last night defended by Stephen Hannay, project director for Novera Energy which wants to erect 10 giant turbines at Wingates and Todd Hill near Morpeth. He said: "Wind is a reliable, proven technology and the Government has set a binding commitment to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. "Given the number of constraints across Northumberland, due to military and civil aviation, nationally important landscapes and sites of historical or ecological importance, it is unlikely there will be a proliferation of wind farms in one given area – and most parts of the county are off limits to wind development. "However, with the national need for the development of renewables we believe that Todd Hill and Wingates currently represent two of the best local examples of acceptable and deliverable development." The Government has made a commitment to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, with a target of generating 15% of all energy from renewables by 2020. Northumberland has a minimum target of 212 megawatts of renewable generation by 2010 – but is unlikely to achieve more than 40 megawatts of installed capacity by the end of next year. Wind campaigners hit back at Deputy PM John Prescott
Oct 21 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal ANTI-WIND farm campaigners from the North East have hit back after former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott accused them of being Nimbys. In a speech to the British Wind Energy Association’s annual conference at Liverpool yesterday, Mr Prescott blamed countryside residents anxious to protect their “chocolate box” views for 75% of onshore wind farm applications being refused by councils. Mr Prescott said the record low 25% approval figure is unacceptable and called for councils to accept their obligations to tackle climate change and recognise that wind farms are part of Government policy. The MP also demanded local authorities identify sites suitable for wind farms and that they stop delaying decisions in the expectancy that the government will overturn their rulings. But last night, Mr Prescott’s comments were met with anger from anti-wind campaigners in the region. Andrew Joicey, who farms at Cornhill and who is a member of the Save our Unspoilt Landscape group opposing a turbine scheme at Barmoor near Berwick, said he was speechless. He said wind power is not the answer to tackling global warming given that there are doubts over its efficiency.
Views of Simonside Hills ‘would be ruined by wind farm’ Oct 14 2009 by Tony Henderson, The Journal The wind farm industry has been forced to admit that the environmental benefit of wind power in reducing carbon emissions is only half as big as it had previously claimed. It will be regarded as a concession that twice as many wind turbines as previously calculated will be needed to provide the same degree of reduction in Britain's carbon emissions.The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) has agreed to scale down its calculation for the amount of harmful carbon dioxide emission that can be eliminated by using wind turbines to generate electricity instead of burning fossil fuels such as coal or gas. The move is a serious setback for the advocates of wind power, as it will be regarded as a concession that twice as many wind turbines as previously calculated will be needed to provide the same degree of reduction in Britain's carbon emissions. A wind farm industry source admitted: "It's not ideal for us. It's the result of pressure by the anti-wind farm lobby." For several years the BWEA – which lobbies on behalf of wind power firms – claimed that electricity from wind turbines 'displaces' 860 grams of carbon dioxide emission for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated. However it has now halved that figure to 430 grams, following discussions with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Hundreds of wind farms are being planned across the country, adding to the 198 onshore and offshore farms - a total of 2,389 turbines - already in operation. Another 40 farms are currently under construction. Experts have previously calculated that to help achieve the Government's aim of saving around 200 million tons of CO2 emissions by 2020 - through generating 15 per cent of the country's electricity from wind power - would require 50,000 wind turbines. But the new figure for carbon displacement means that twice as many turbines would now be needed to save the same amount of CO2 emissions. While their advocates regard wind farms as a key part of Britain's fight against climate change, opponents argue they blight the landscape at great financial cost while bringing little environmental benefit. Dr Mike Hall, an anti-wind farm campaigner from the Friends of Eden, Lakeland and Lunesdale Scenery group in the Lake District, said: "Every wind farm application says it will lead to a big saving in the amount of carbon dioxide produced. This has been greatly exaggerated and the reduction in the carbon displacement figure is a significant admission of this. "As we get cleaner power stations on line, the figure will get even lower. It further backs the argument that wind farms are one of the most inefficient and expensive ways of lowering carbon emissions." Because wind farms burn no fuel, they emit no carbon dioxide during regular running. The revised calculation for the amount of carbon emission they save has come about because the BWEA's earlier figure did not take account of recent improvements to the technology used in conventional, fossil-fuel-burning power stations. The figure of 860 grams dates back to the days of old-style coal-fired power stations. However, since the early 1990s, many of the dirty coal-fired stations have been replaced by cleaner-burning stations, with a consequent reduction in what the industry calls the "grid average mix" figure for carbon dioxide displacement. As a result, a modern 100MW coal or gas power station is now calculated to produce half as many tonnes of carbon dioxide as its predecessor would have done. The BWEA's move follows a number of rulings by the ASA against claims made by individual wind farm promoters about the benefits their schemes would have in reducing carbon emissions. In one key adjudication, the ASA ruled that a claim by Npower Renewables that a wind farm planned for the southern edge of Exmoor National Park, in Devon, would help prevent the release of 33,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere was "inaccurate and likely to mislead". This claim was based on the 860-gram figure. The watchdog concluded: "We told Npower to ensure that future carbon savings claims were based on a more representative and rigorous carbon emissions factor." The ASA has now recommended that the BWEA and generating companies use the far lower figure of 430 grams. In a letter to its members, the BWEA's head of onshore, Jan Matthiesen, said: "It was agreed to recommend to all BWEA members to use the single static figure of 430 g CO2/kWh for the time being. The advantage is that it is well accepted and presents little risk as it understates the true figure." This is now the figure given on the BWEA's website. The organisation will also be forced to lower its claim for the total amount of carbon dioxide emission saved by the 2,389 wind turbines currently operating around Britain. But the association denied the change weakened the case for wind farms. Nick Medic, spokesman for the BWEA, said: "Wind farms are still eliminating emissions. The fact is that fossil fuel burning power stations belch out CO2 and wind farms don't. That has not changed. "The fact is we need to reduce carbon emissions, however you account for them. But there are people who just
don't like wind farms and will use any argument against them." Wingates steps up wind farm fight
11 December 2008
Posted by The Journal A group which is opposing plans for a wind farm near Rothbury has launched a petition. Wingates not Wind Farms is objecting to developer Novera Energy's plans to erect up to seven turbines near the hamlet. It is also opposing four other possible wind farms in the area. Turbines proposal revealed
30 November 2008
PLANS for eight wind turbines near a Northumberland village will be revealed at a public exhibition being held today and tomorrow. Coronation Power's proposal for the 110m-high structures at Todburn East is being put on display in the Longframlington Memorial Hall, on Rothbury Road, between 10am and 8pm.
The exhibition is part of the company's local public consultation programme, as it develops a planning application to seek permission to build the wind-farm.
Members of Coronation Power's team and representatives from its consultants will be available to answer questions.
The proposed site at Todburn East is just over a mile to the east of Longhorsley, west of the A697 road.
But opposition to the scheme is growing, with locals forming a pressure group to fight not only that scheme, but four others in the immediate area which are currently being scoped prior to application.
They include potential turbine sites at Wingates, Todburn Farm, Parkhead/Rayburn Lake, near Netherwitton, and Whinney Hill, near Longhorsley.
Tom Pape, who is chairman of the recently-formed Wingates Not Wind Farms campaign, said: "These proposals will completely envelop this area with turbines.
"We have major concerns in three areas, the first being blight on the landscape and the effects on our wonderful natural views, particularly to and from the Simonside Hills.
"Secondly, we're concerned about the effect on those who, for example, have diversified their farms to offer facilities for tourists.
"Their guests come here for the natural beauty, the peace and traquility, but are already saying they won't come back if turbines are built.
"Finally, there is a strong case that the noise generated by the turbines has an adverse link to the health of nearby communities."
But Coronation Power's managing director, Vickram Mirchandani, said: "We believe the wind-farm offers not only direct energy and environmental benefits for the area but can also bring other advantages for the local community.
"The proposed site would have a total installed capacity of 16MW of electricity a year, the equivalent of the annual energy needs of about 8,900 homes.
"That would prevent at least 15,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions compared to producing the same amount of electricity by burning fossil fuels." Wind of change for Wingates
28 November 2008
REVISED proposals for a windfarm at Wingates, near Longhorsley, will go on public display during the first two days in December at the Village Institute. The windfarm site, proposed by Novera Energy plc, is on farmland to the West of Wingates and East of Stanton, approximately 6km North West of Morpeth.
Novera is an established renewable energy company that develops, owns and operates a portfolio of landfill gas, hydro and wind assets at 57 sites across the UK, generating 118MW of renewable electricity.
The Wingates exhibitions follow an early consultation exercise in mid-September when local residents were invited to review and discuss the initial proposals. Comments made at and since these exhibitions have now been considered by the applicants.
The two most significant changes which have been made to the design are that the number of turbines has decreased from seven to six and the maximum height of the turbines has been lowered from 130m to 110m.
Novera is now proposing to erect up to six turbines which would meet the electricity requirements of between 6,500 and 8,500 households from renewable sources.
Dan Grierson, Project Director at Novera, said: "We have chosen the site at Wingates as a suitable site for a windfarm following a three-year site selection process. So far our studies show us that it has a number of attributes which allows it to accommodate a successful windfarm, of up to six wind turbines, with minimal environmental effects."
The Wingates public exhibitions will take place on the following days: Monday, December 1, Noon-8pm, and Tuesday, December 2, 10am-4pm.
ITV Tyne Tees News
28 October 2008 Covering the story of Wingates wind farms proposal. Wingates community united in wind farm fight 27th October 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal A TINY rural Northumberland community could end up completely surrounded by wind farms. The hamlet of Wingates, near Rothbury, is faced with five schemes which are either at scoping or pre-application stage, all within 5km of the houses. The 22-home community, which was an estate village up until the 1960s, fears the proposals would ruin the uninterrupted views of open countryside, which include Simonside hill and Northumberland National Park. Residents have formed the action group Wingates not Wind Farms (WNWF) which held its first meeting last week in association with the parish council. Within a week, 100 people have signed up to the protest – more than double the permanent population of 35 to 40. The group is mainly focusing on Novera Energy’s Wingates Wind Farm, which would see up to seven turbines 110m high just one kilometre west of the hamlet. The proposal is currently subject of a scoping report, ahead of a full planning application to Alnwick District Council. But the group, which has met Novera, is also opposing nearby proposals at Todburn Farm; Todd Hill; Parkhead/Rayburn Lake, Netherwitton; and Whinney Hill, Longhorsley. WNWF is liaising with campaign groups being established to fight those schemes. Group vice chairman John Thompson, 48, who works in insurance and is a former chairman of Wingates village institute, last night said opposition to the wind farm proposals would be “the biggest mobilisation of people this area has ever seen.” He added: “If all these proposals go ahead round here, we are going to be ringed by them and there are going to be dozens of the things. “Five in such a relatively small area is a heck of a lot. We will see them from every direction. We get a full uninterrupted view of Simonside which is one of the best things about living here. It is one of the best views in Northumberland, but not for much longer. “We have done a lot of work about the village and its heritage, to take a lot of interest in the village and then find something like this. There is a lot of ill feeling about it.” As well as opposing the Wingates proposal on grounds of loss of views, the group also has fears over the turbines’ impact on wildlife. The area is one of the few to have red squirrels, as well as birds of prey and many other bird species, and bats. The group is also concerned that the turbines will distract drivers on the area’s minor road network. WNWF chairman Tom Pape, 33, of South Farm Cottages, and a senior manager with BT, said: “We are trying to make as much noise as possible now that people are aware of what is going on. “I am passionate that we do fight this and we do not just stand back and let it happen.” Dan Grierson, project director with Novera Energy, last night said the Wingates site had been chosen as it poses no problem to the Ministry of Defence, unlike other county locations. He said various steps have been taken to minimise the effects of the project on its surroundings. The site of the wind farm has been moved further west – away from Wingates, the turbines have been group closed together, the structure closest to the national park has been removed and the height of the turbines reduced from 130m. Mr Grierson added that most homes in Wingates are surrounded by trees and would be unable to see the wind farm. A public exhibition is planned in the hamlet on December 1 and 2, and the company hopes to submit its planning application by the end of the year. Mr Grierson also said there was support for the project in Wingates. Beith calls for 'one' windfarm inquiry
25 September 2006
Source: Morpeth Herald
THE MP representing a Borough 'beacon' for windfarm developers has called for all North East turbine proposals do be dealt with by a single public inquiry. Alan Beith, speaking at the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton, called for a mass public debate on the controversial structures.
Part of his Berwick constituency covers the Castle Morpeth coast where at least two firm windfarm projects are on the table. The industrial areas around Lynemouth and Ellington have become 'beacons' for turbine applications since they were identified as 'areas of least constraint'.
"There is a real need for an orderly procedure over this," Mr Beith said.
"With a public inquiry, everyone could get their point of view across. There could be a proper assessment and we could see whether the locations chosen (for turbines] are the right ones."
He added that wind power was an essential tool in the fight for the environment, but Northumberland could not sustain the 200-plus turbines planned.
"Wind has a part to play but no one could contemplate that every application made should be granted," he said.
Netherwitton and Longhorsley, both represented in Parliament by Mr Beith, have also been targeted by developers.
RES UK, the world's largest renewable energy firm, has started wind speed and weather tests at Rayburn Lake, North of Netherwitton, which could lead to firm proposals within two years.
Coronation Power recently won permission to erect a test mast and anemometer near Longhorsley, with a view to creating an eight-turbine stand.
Last week the 'Herald' revealed a vast area of hillside and farmland to the West of the Borough had been surveyed by world-leading energy consultants, Arup.
A 16-mile by three-mile 'column' stretching from Harwood Forest down to Knowesgate is now a designated 'valuable wind resource area'.
The study site overlooks scores of Castle Morpeth villages, including Nunnykirk, Netherwitton, Longwitton, Scots Gap, Cambo and Kirkwhelpington. Evening Chronicle
Sept 10, 2008 A WIND farm company wants to discuss its plans for a North East site with locals. Farmland to the west of Wingates and east of Stanton, around 6km north west of Morpeth, has been identified as a potential site for six wind turbines. Novera Energy plc, an established renewable energy company, is interested in developing the site, to be called Wingates Wind Farm. Information days will allow residents to find out more about the proposals. Dan Grierson, project director, said: "We recognise the importance of meeting with residents and representatives from the local area to discuss any potential concerns they may have."
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