By Thom Kennedy

Last updated at 12:49, Friday, 27 November 2009

The developer behind a four-turbine windfarm near Wigton has admitted it could have “major, long-term impact” on the local area.

Steve Swallow

BT recently submitted proposals to Allerdale Council to build the windfarm between the villages of Plumbland, Threapland and Bothel.

As part of the application, the firm has carried out an assessment of the impact the turbines would have on the local landscape, and made the admissions within that assessment.

The impact of the turbines would, the document says, extend for around 18 kilometres.

But the biggest impact would be on Threapland itself.

“The character of the landscape would be completely changed by the proposed turbines as they would become the dominant feature in what is currently a rural village location without modern influences,” the document claims.

“The magnitude of change on the character of the landscape at this viewpoint is considered to be severe due to the developments radically changing the character of the landscape through over dominance.

“The significance of the landscape effects is therefore a major, direct, long-term, adverse impact.”

A list of locations in the area also shows that some sensitive areas, such as Swarthy Hill near Maryport, would suffer from the high, substantial and adverse impact of the 410-ft high turbines, despite being 10 kilometres away.

Steve Swallow, a member of the Threapland Turbine Action Group (TTAG), said: “For BT to admit this is astounding.

“It just goes to show how bad this scheme would be for the lives of countless families living literally under the shadow of these things.”

TTAG chairman Alan Clouston added: “This is a quiet rural area of several small villages.

“It just isn’t acceptable for families, many with children, to have to put up with an increase in noise level of such magnitude. It’s an appalling way to treat people.

“It is only because we insisted that BT took photographs from the nearest village that they had to admit the disastrous effect it would have on that village.”

First published at 11:21, Friday, 27 November 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk