By Jenny Barwise

Last updated at 13:30, Friday, 09 November 2012

An anti-windfarm group is appealing for people to lodge their objections to plans for three turbines in Allerdale.

The turbines, planned for Charity Lane in Workington and Boltongate and Westward near Wigton, are up for discussion at Allerdale Council’s development panel next Tuesday.

And although all three of the schemes are being recommended for refusal by planning officers, anti-windfarm group Friends of Cumbria’s Environemnt (FORCE) are asking people to formally object to the plans as well as attending the meeting.

Marion Fitzgerald, chairwoman of Force said: “We are very pleased to see that Allerdale’s planning officers have recommended refusal on three applications for single turbines. It is a most welcome change – in fact, it is unheard of.

“It is also just possible that our planning officers are beginning to take notice of what we are telling them at local level too.”

Ms Fitzgerald went on to say: “There is no room for complacency, of course, and we still need to make sure that the councillors are persuaded to reject these totally inappropriate proposals.”

Anybody who does attend the meeting, held at The Wave Centre in Maryport from 1pm, will be unable to speak during the formal proceedings. However, Ms Fitzgerald wants to “demonstrate” to the council that the “proliferation of wind turbines in Allerdale is an issue which many people care very deeply about.”

Ms Fitzgerald said that the application for a turbine at Clea Mire at Westward has not been on the books very long, so it could do with additional objections.

She said that the 61m turbine proposed for Boltongate would ruin the setting of the historic All Saints Church and impact severely on homes nearby.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many members of FORCE who have provided invaluable help and assistance over recent difficult months during which unprecedented numbers of wind energy applications have poured into Allerdale,” she added.

First published at 13:23, Friday, 09 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk