Six wind turbine proposals for tiny Northumberland village

Oct 28 2009 by Sam Wood, The Journal

A TINY Northumberland village is in danger of being swamped by wind turbines, residents last night said.

Wingates, in the north of the county, is home to just 32 people but there are currently six proposals for wind farms in the vicinity at various stages of the planning process.

If all the schemes are approved, it would mean 33 turbines surrounding the village.

But now a group of horrified residents have got together to fight the plans, amid fears about the economic and environmental impact.

John Thompson, vice chairman of the Wingates not Wind farm action group, said: “They would encircle the village, we would be surrounded. And these would be big turbines, about four and half time the size of the Angel of the North.

“If all the schemes are approved we could have one turbine each.

“Aside from the significant visual impact there would be other adverse effects on habitat and wildlife.

“Also there are a number of small businesses operating in the village and outside which have diversified into areas such as tourism and an equestrian centre. They rely largely on the unspoilt aspects of this area and, despite the developers quoting studies to the contrary they would suffer from the creation of a wind farm in such close proximity.

“We considered one wind farm so close to the village to be inappropriate but when we became aware of the other proposals we were horrified.”