Barmoor wind farm campaigners unhappy with Council

Jan 23 2010 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

CAMPAIGNERS who failed in their battle to stop a Northumberland wind farm bid have accused a council of making it easier for the scheme to be approved.

As reported in yesterday’s Journal, developer Catamount Energy has been given the go-ahead to put up six turbines 110 metres high at Barmoor near Berwick, although proposals at nearby Moorsyde and Toft Hill have been thrown out.

The Barmoor scheme had been opposed by hundreds of local people, led by action group Soul our Unspoilt Landscape (SOUL), fearful at its impact on countryside views and the area’s archaeological and cultural heritage, in particular Ford Moss Colliery and other scheduled ancient monuments.

It had been rejected by the now defunct Berwick Borough Council in March 2008 leading to an appeal and the Government’s announcement that it would have the final say, not a planning inspector.

A public inquiry was held in May and June of last year, at which SOUL and the borough’s replacement Northumberland County Council led the fight against the project.

The action group put forward an expert witness to mount what it said was a “very strong” and “relevant” case on cultural heritage, but the council did not – despite it being a factor in the borough’s refusal.

In allowing the scheme to proceed, Communities Secretary John Denham found that there would be no significant effect on cultural heritage in the area.

Now, SOUL has claimed the council’s “very disappointing” decision not to oppose the scheme on this ground made it easier for Catamount to win approval and argued it shows the authority had lacked commitment for the fight.

The group’s Andrew Joicey said: “I think it would have been easier for it (the inquiry) to come to the conclusion that it should have been turned down if there had been a strong archaeological objection from the county council department.”

SOUL believes the council did not present such an objection as it would have cost the authority more in hire of expert witnesses.

The Journal approached the council for a comment on SOUL’s claims but it asked us to use a pre-prepared statement.

That read: “The county council welcomes the appeal decisions which will help to inform future decisions on windfarm developments particularly in North Northumberland.

“The council welcomes the inspector and secretary of state's careful balancing of the issues involved, in particular the weight accorded to landscape and heritage issues whilst recognising the importance of the wider benefits of wind energy in helping to reach renewable energy targets and combat climate change.”

:: For previous stories, go to www.journallive.co.uk/windfarms