Turbines ‘will raise risk of air disaster’

Jan 16 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

Battle lines drawn on the landscape

THE inquiry was convened to consider the impacts of Amec Project Investments Ltd’s bid to erect 20 turbines at Ray Estate, Wind Prospect Developments Ltd’s application for 18 60m structures at Green Rigg Fell, Birtley, and Steadings Wind Farm Ltd’s proposals for 21 at Steadings, Kirkwhelpington.

The Green Rigg application is an appeal following Tynedale Council’s non-determination while the other two must be decided by the Secretary of State, given their size.

Making representations at the inquiry will be the three applicants, Tynedale Council, Northumberland County Council, Northumberland National Park Authority, the MoD, Newcastle Airport, aviation body NATS (En- Route) and the Campaign for Responsible Energy Development in Tynedale.

Also appearing will be Steadings Landowners Association, the Natural History Society of Northumbria, the Northumberland and Newcastle Society, Throcklington Parochial Church Council, Elsdon Parish Council and Kirkwhelpington Parish Council.

------------------------------------------------------------------

MoD takes case-by-case approach

THE Ministry of Defence has insisted objections to wind farms are taken on a "case-by- case" basis but is in "discussion" with regional officials over a revised planning blueprint.

Defence Minister Derek Twigg also said a decision to object to one project did not "automatically" relate to another.

His comments come after Berwick MP Alan Beith raised the issue with the MoD in light of last-minute objections at a public inquiry to a recent wind farm application in Middlemoor, north of Alnwick.

Mr Beith asked whether the department’s grounds for objection applied to other proposed sites in parts of the county identified in the regional planning strategy as areas of "least constraint".

A question about whether any modification to the blueprint was being proposed to meet defence operational requirements was also raised by Mr Beith. Mr Twigg, who replied in a Commons written answer, said: "The decision whether or not to object to a planning application for one or more wind turbines is taken on a case-by-case basis and the decision in one case does not automatically relate to another.

"The key issues are whether proposed turbines will affect Ministry of Defence interests such as operations and safety, and, if they do, whether the predicted effects will be manageable." Speaking later, Mr Beith said: "I raised this question with the Minister because the Ministry of Defence’s intervention in the public inquiry was made so late on in the process.

"An earlier intervention could have saved a great deal of time, money and effort. If it is the case that wind farms in Northumberland would be a threat to the safety of RAF operations, and our security, then it would have been helpful to have that information earlier in the process."