By Safira Ali

Last updated at 11:47, Saturday, 18 July 2009

Protestors fighting plans to build wind turbines almost as tall as the London Eye near a Cumbrian village have stepped up their campaign.

Residents of Threapland, near Aspatria, are furious after plans were revealed to build six turbines 500 metres from their homes.

BT is preparing to submit a planning application to Allerdale Council to create a windfarm at Threapland Lees.

This has prompted families living in Threapland, Bothel and Plumbland to form an action group and fight the proposals.

That group has now recruited 50 members and has taken its plight to their parish council.

Steve Swallow, a Threapland resident and member of the action group, said if the plans get the go ahead hundreds of families within these villages will live for at least the next 25 years under the shadow of structures which are over 100 feet taller than Big Ben, emitting constant noise, and, in many instances, just a short stroll from their back doors.

He said: “We met at the parish council meeting on Tuesday. We will be having an action group meeting to decide what we do next. Our aim is to show what impact it will have in the communities.

“It is a real David and Goliath battle between the small villages of Bothel, Threapland and Plumbland and the giant international company BT.

“Even before a planning application has been submitted, residents are prepared to fight the erection of six 125-metre wind turbines very close to the village of Threapland. The closest would be only 500 metres from the nearest house.

“The overwhelming view of the parish council meeting, even from those generally in favour of wind energy, was that any proposed wind turbines, this close to habitation, should be resisted.”

Workington MP Tony Cunningham is also against the proposals.

He told the News & Star: “I am against it. I am not against wind turbines in principle. If we do have them they should be offshore so you don’t see them.

“Onshore – we have accepted our responsibility. We have dozens more than we should and more than other parts of the country.

“Any more will have a cumulative effect on the environmental impact on the area. We are trying to attract tourists from the honey pot areas like Keswick and Windermere, but with more wind turbines it will be difficult to do that.”

In a report to Allerdale Council, BT said that the turbines will be seen from Threapland, Plumbland, Parsonby, Arkleby, Bothel, Blennerhasset and Aspatria. The Threapland Turbine Action Group (TTAG) has now started the fight against BT.

BT is currently commissioning an environmental impact study prior to submitting a formal planning application for consideration by Allerdale council.

First published at 09:05, Saturday, 18 July 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk