Two Northumberland wind farms rejected but third allowed

Jan 22 2010 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

THE Government has thrown out plans for two wind farms in Northumberland but allowed a third.

Proposals for seven turbines at Toft Hill and seven at Moorsyde, both near Berwick, have been rejected but plans for six 110-metre engines at nearby Barmoor have been approved.

The decisions were taken by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government John Denham in line with the recommendations of a planning inspector who conducted a public inquiry into the three schemes last year.

The inquiry followed the now defunct Berwick Borough Council’s decision to refuse all three schemes in March 2008 and the developers’ subsequent appeals.

Hundreds of local people had opposed the wind farms throughout the planning process, claiming they would ruin views of the Northumberland countryside and make the area less attractive for tourists. Three action groups formed to fight the plans. Now Mr Denham has ruled Catamount Energy’s Barmoor project would not have an unacceptable impact on views or a significant effect on scheduled ancient monuments and cultural heritage.

But Mr Denham found Your Energy’s Moorsyde scheme would have a major effect on the landscape and views of the Cheviots and would breach accepted noise limits. The minister also decided npower renewables’ Toft Hill project would have an unacceptable impact on the Duddo Standing Stones.

Objectors were last night delighted by the rejection of the two schemes after five-and-a-half years of fighting but voiced bitter disappointment at the approval of the Barmoor project.