Wind farm power firm in investigation over tubine position

Jan 25 2010 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

A RENEWABLE energy giant has been accused of misleading councillors who will decide the fate of its proposed Northumberland wind farm.

E.ON Climate and Renewables UK has a planning application lodged with Northumberland County Council for eight 115-metre turbines at West Ancroft, near Berwick.

Last month, the council’s planning and environment committee held a site visit ahead of determining the proposal where E.ON was asked to put down markers to indicate the location of the engines.

But The Journal has learnt that a formal complaint has been submitted to the council, suggesting that the straw bale used to represent the turbine nearest to homes was placed 200 metres out of position and 100 metres further from properties than it would be.

Ian Corsie, chairman of the West Ancroft Community Association, uncovered the apparent discrepancy after noticing the location of the bale supposedly differed greatly from the location in the planning application and photomontages produced by E.ON.

Mr Corsie, who lives at The Shieling, Allerdean Greens, said: “If the position of the straw bale really indicates where E.ON intends to place this turbine, then they must withdraw their present planning application and resubmit it with the correct information and amended photomontages.

“If they have simply made a mistake, they should say so and give councillors the facts.