Conservation status may halt wind farm plans

Mar 6 2010 by Neil McKay, The Journal

CAMPAIGNERS fighting a windfarm proposal next to a County Durham hamlet are celebrating the prospect of the community being granted conservation area status next week.

Durham County Councillors are being recommended to designate Bolam, near West Auckland, a conservation area.

By doing so they could scupper proposals by energy company NPower Renewables to build six wind turbines nearby.

The consideration follows requests from residents to protect the village from future developments, such as wind turbines, which may not be in keeping with the character of the area.

Bolam – with one pub and a smattering of houses – has changed little since 1856 and factors which will be considered when recommending that it be designated a conservation area will include the village’s historical development, architectural character and landscape qualities.

If approved, the designation would mean that Bolam, a small rural village with a population of 63 people, would require future planning decisions to pay special attention to preserving or enhancing the recognised character and appearance of the area.

Future developments would also have to be sympathetic to landscape features, views and the village’s undeveloped areas, which contribute to the character or the appearance of the area and its settings. The details of which are set out in an accompanying Character Appraisal document also being put to Cabinet for adoption.

Councillor Neil Foster, cabinet portfolio holder for regeneration and economic development on Durham County Council, said: “Bolam is a medieval village which has special architectural and historic interest.

“The designation of conservation area would ensure that the special character of the area will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.”

Residents last year hired architect Niall Hammond, from Teesdale, a former county archaeologist for Durham and an adviser to the Ministry of Defence, to carry out an investigation into the village’s history. Mr Hammond reported that the land where the wind farm is proposed is an important historical site. Immediately to the east is Dere Street, a major Roman road from York to Hadrian’s Wall.

He said two cropmark sites “may represent evidence of now buried occupation sites of later prehistory or Roman periods”.

Bolam resident Kathy Pagella said: “We would hope that if the village is granted conservation status then this would put paid to the wind farm plans. We are delighted that the cabinet is being recommended to grant Bolam this status.”

Campaigners against the turbines claim that if they are given the go-ahead they would be visible from as far afield as Durham, Billingham and North Yorkshire.