Glendale Gateway Trust defends wind turbine plan
Aug 19 2010 by The Journal
A DEVELOPMENT trust criticised over its involvement in a turbine scheme has insisted it is not jumping on the wind power bandwagon.
As reported in last Thursday’s Journal, the Glendale Gateway Trust at Wooler is involved with Berwick-based social enterprise Community Renewable Energy (CoRE) in a scheme which could see two turbines with a hub height of 50m put up on unspoilt countryside near the village.
The partners secured planning permission from Northumberland County Council in June to put up a 50m wind monitoring mast at the Weetwood Moor site.
The Journal reported how the trust was being criticised for being involved in a scheme which “may well kick-start the industrial degradation of local tourist landscapes”.
The website Windbyte, which monitors wind farm proposals in the North East, voiced surprise at the trust’s involvement amid fears that the project could open the floodgates to a series of larger applications from bigger commercial developers.
The trust’s assets development manager, Neil Wilson, said he recognises that others might share Windbyte’s view, but added there is no point working out whether the turbines would harm the landscape until the partners know whether they would be feasible.
He also stressed that some action groups set up to fight large wind farm proposals, including the Moorsyde Action Group which opposed turbines near Berwick, are in support of small community projects.
Mr Wilson claimed bodies like the trust need to think of innovative ways to generate money for their communities, given they face “an interesting and difficult few years ahead” in terms of their funding.
He said the trust is not just looking at wind power and is exploring other renewable energy options.
It has completed a feasibility study on the possibility of an Archimedian Screw on Wooler Water, which has found that a scheme would be feasible.
The trust has planned a trip to see such a scheme in operation in North Yorkshire and is taking representatives from the trust, Wooler Parish Council and Northumberland National Park Authority.
It hopes the parish council will take the lead on the project, working with a social enterprise called H2OPE.
Mr Wilson said: “We are not just being narrow minded and looking at the wind turbine bandwagon. We are looking at alternatives.
“I think that it is very sad that organisations such as Windbyte will just concentrate on the wind turbines.”
Windbyte claims the turbines near Wooler would have a blade-tip height of at least 76m (250 ft).
It says the site is within the Kyloe Hills and Glendale Area of High Landscape Value, close to Northumberland National Park, and is in an area of high amenity value.
