Why do we say NO?
1) Landscape and visual impact: Stainmore is within the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and is an International Union for the Conservation of Nature Category V (5) Protected Landscape, the same category as National Parks, with the same protection in the planning process. The unspoilt and spectacular views which make this area unique would be destroyed forever. The AONB management plan states “one of the principal features of the AONB which is so rare elsewhere in England, is its sense of wilderness and remoteness” This precious, wild beauty must be protected. The visual impact of the development would be enormous—the gigantic turbines would be visible for miles around, dominating and ruining the entire landscape.
2) The development is contrary to Cumbria County Council planning directives, the AONB management plan and Government Policy:
Cumbira County Council’s policy documents state that in the Stainmore area any scheme “requiring more than one turbine or a turbine with a ground to hub height of 25 metres or more is unlikely to be acceptable.“ The proposed turbines are 125 metres high! The directives also state “within the boundary of the National Park and AONBs..it is likely that wind energy development will be restricted to single turbines of less than 25m to hub height. Anything larger is likely to be unacceptable in landscape character terms.“ Cumbria County Council class the site as “fells and scarp” and state that “all scales (of windfarm development) are generally inappropriate”
The proposal is also contrary to the current North Pennines AONB management plan policy guideline LP8 which states “The development of commercial scale/non-domestic wind energy production within the AONB should be resisted.”
The consultation draft of the new statutory North Pennines AONB Management Plan is unequivocal in its opposition to wind farm development in, or impacting upon, the AONB. This development is also contrary to Government policy as set out in PPS7 and PPS22.
3) Destruction of peat: Peatlands are our best natural carbon store. Damaging peatlands to build concrete turbine bases, extensive roads and pylons will release large
amounts of carbon and prevent further storage; wind turbines could not offset that loss over their lifetime. In their document “Wind Turbines and Peat Soils” the RSPB warn that “the loss of the carbon storage function of deep peat and the release of carbon that occurs when peat is disturbed may undermine any carbon saving benefits of renewable wind development.”
4) Impact on wildlife and environment: The development would have an enormous impact on the local eco-system, destroying unique habitats. Miles of roads would have to be built all around the site causing further catastrophic and permanent damage to the area. Birdlife will be particularly badly affected. The RSPB identify the exact area where the turbines would be placed as an area which should be “avoided for wind farm developments due to the potential damage to fragile habitats and associated species”
5) Road Safety: The A66 is a dangerous road. The new junction which will be built specifically for the wind factory would be an extreme hazard especially given the poor weather (low cloud, fog, snow, ice) frequently experienced on Stainmore. The potential for accidents is enormous. The turbines would also distract drivers on a road where their attention needs to be totally on their driving, not on structures which stand out so markedly in the landscape that the eye is drawn towards them.
6) Noise: Stainmore is totally tranquil. Up on the proposed site walking towards Tan Hill the A66 is inaudible. The development will totally destroy this rare peace. There is a weight of evidence that living near to turbines causes health problems due not only to audible noise but also to resonance through the ground which can be felt for miles. People have been driven from their homes—research this for yourself—you will be shocked by what you read.
7) The list goes on: Safety (turbine fires, collapses and blades flying off the hub) Ice Shear. Property values (The RICS and recent legal cases confirm that property values DO fall around wind factories). Loss of CROW access land. Damage to tourism etc.
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