Wind turbine report is submitted to council

Feb 6 2009 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

A TINY village with just 70 residents could find itself surrounded by seven huge wind turbines.

Energy company Npower Renewables wants to build the structures – which local people claim would measure up to 125m from base to blade tip – just outside Bolam, in County Durham.

A scoping report has been submitted to Teesdale District Council and if a formal application is submitted then there could be one turbine for every 10 people who live nearby.

The massive structures would tower over the small village, just 400 metres away from the homes of local residents.

And it would be situated on a 115 hectare field, currently used for grazing sheep, which is also just 200m from Lutterington. Residents have formed a group to oppose the turbine development, calling themselves the Bolam Residents’ Association.

And last night, campaigner Kathy Pagella said the project would have wider implications for the surrounding area.

She said: “It’s not just our small hamlet that will be affected. This area is a beautiful place and these turbines would spoil the area. The noise and health issues are our main concern. There are people who have had to leave their homes because of nearby wind turbines.

“I’ve read research which says these turbines shouldn’t be built within 2km of people’s homes, but these are just 400m away from our houses. It’s criminal.”

TNEI, a green energy consultancy firm, is talking to residents, councillors, council officers and local organisations on behalf of Npower Renewables, which operates 22 wind farms in the UK.

Among the groups being consulted about the project is the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). But last night Elizabeth Mann, a member of Durham’s branch of the group, said she thought the area was unsuitable for the huge development.

She said: “At the CPRE we are sceptics rather than anti when it comes to wind farms. But I have visited the site at Bolam three times and I think it is in totally the wrong place. It’s a very quiet and beautiful village with no noise.”

Nigel Moore, project manager at energy consultants TNEI, said the Government is encouraging major electricity companies to use renewable energy.

He said: “We are currently investigating a site which has the potential for a modest-sized wind farm, and have submitted a scoping report to Teesdale District Council which outlines the extent of the assessments we are proposing to undertake.

“Throughout the project, we will aim to keep everyone informed.”

A spokesman from Npower said the “medium-scale” wind farm “could make an important contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change”.

He said: “Over the coming months, Npower Renewables will be consulting with stakeholders and local residents with a series of public exhibitions and meetings even before any formal application for planning permission is made.”