Final day for Berwick wind farm inquiry
Jun 22 2009 by Brian Daniel, The Journal
A BATTLE over proposals to site three wind farms in the Northumberland countryside reaches its climax today.
Developers are proposing to erect a combined 20 turbines on sites near Berwick. Their proposals have been the subject of a public inquiry for the last five weeks.
The hearing comes to an end with closing submissions at the town’s Maltings theatre today from 12pm.
Each party who has been involved in the inquiry will be given 25 minutes to sum up their case to planning inspector Ruth McKenzie.
Speakers will include Catamount Energy, which is seeking six turbines at Barmoor, Your Energy, which wants to put seven at Moorsyde and npower renewables, which hopes to erect seven at Toft Hill.
Also to appear are opposition groups Save our Unspoilt Landscape, Moorsyde Action Group and Inappropriate Siting of Renewable Energy Structures.
They will be joined by fellow opponents, residents of Ancroft Southmoor and Northumberland County Council.
Last night, the Save our Unspoilt Landscape group was hoping as many people as possible will attend the inquiry’s closing to show the inspector the strength of feeling against the developments.
Member Andrew Joicey said: “I am hoping the inspector will listen to all the final submissions and will come to the conclusion that this area is not a suitable area for any of these specific applications.
“They have all been shown to have problems. We have had good support to date and we hope that there will be as many people as possible there.”
The inquiry was triggered by the now defunct Berwick Borough Council’s decision to refuse the developers’ applications last March and their subsequent appeals. It has heard evidence on landscape - both site specific and cumulative, planning, energy, tourism, noise and cultural heritage.
Mrs McKenzie will make recommendations to the Communities Secretary John Denham, who will determine the appeals.
We have had good support and we hope there will be as many people as possible there
