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Dr M J Hall of F.e.l.l.s. Presentation
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Community says no to "Community" Windpower
There was standing room only in Brough Memorial Hall on Friday evening as more than 120 concerned local residents gathered to hear about the proposal by Community Windpower Ltd to build 12 x 125m(410ft) tubines on Stainmore within the North Pennines AONB.
The meeting, chaired by the Rt Hon David Maclean MP heard from a variety of speakers including Dr Mike Hall of FELLS and Mr Geoff Lightburn who talked about how the windfarm proposition at Hof had been defeated.
The community was deeply concerned by the proposal and had turned out in high numbers to express their opposition to Community Windpower's plan.
The Save our Stainmore group which organised the meeting commented "Community windpower say that they "specialise in working with local communities" and that they believe in an "open and consultative approach". We challenge them to prove this by listening to the local community and dropping their plans to ruin one of the last truly wild and beautiful places in the whole of the country. The community has spoken - we challenge "Community" windpower to listen."
Messages of support for the SOS campaign were also read from Chris Bonington and Melvyn Bragg who both wholeheartedly support the fight to save Stainmore.
Also speaking was Chris Woodley Stewart of the North Pennines AONB who stressed that his organisation would fight as hard and as long as necessary to protect the AONB and that he has already told Community Windpower Ltd that their development was inappropriate, unwanted and totally unacceptable.
In addition to hearing about the devastation which would be caused by a wind factory on Stainmore the meeting then heard about the possibility of real community projects which could be undertaken in order to reduce carbon emissions and make the Brough and Stainmore area much greener. Roger Roberts Chair of Cumbria Volutary Action spoke about the need to reduce carbon emissions and the many projects which can be undertaken which are totally desired and owned by the local community. Bill Mitchell of Gamblesby spoke about just such a successful project which had been undertaken there.
SoS stated "The very high attendance clearly demonstrates the level of anxiety in this area about the proposal. Tonight's meeting has confirmed that the people of this area do not wish to see a wind factory amidst the beauty of the North Pennines AONB. "Community" Windpower Ltd need now to listen to the real community here and immediately cease their investigations on the Stainmore site. We wish to thank everyone for coming and to send a clear signal to this company that they will face enormous opposition from the AONB, the County Council and the local community as well as many other organisations should they choose to move forward with these plans."
You can show your support for Save our Stainmore by registering here: