Kirkby Moor Repowering

Having failed to get consent for new turbines to replace those due to be removed in 2018 Innogy has now applied to the council to allow the turbines to be retained until 2027 despite the original condition that they be removed after 25 years to return the moor to its original protected status. If this were to be agreed to it would set a very unwelcome and even dangerous precedent.

For more on the reasons for objections from the local group please see : http://www.cumbriawindwatch.co.uk/index.php/File:Kirkby_Moor.pdf

For more information and to object please go to applications.southlakeland.gov.uk/planningapplications/detail.asp

The application was refused on 5 grounds including harm to the landscape and heritage assets and potential impact on archeological interests and the ecology of the SSSI.

The Committee added the following to the reasons for refusal "The Local Planning Authority has acted positively and proactively in determining this application by identifying matters of concern with the proposal and discussing those with the applicant. However, the issues are so fundamental to the proposal that it has not been possible to negotiate a satisfactory way forward and due to the harm which has been clearly identified within the reasons for the refusal, approval has not been possible."

This application now goes before the Committee on Thursday, 26th November at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, Cumbria at 10.00am. Anyone wanting to give moral or physical support on the day, please join STARC "under the banner" at the barricade in front of Ulverston Town Hall.

Click below for a link to an updated letter to SDLC Updated_letter_and_info_for_SLDC2nd_November_2015.pdf

Below is a link to a report submitted to SLDC by an Environmental Adviser, Douglas Cross. It highlights the problems of vibration and low frequency sound from windfarms and how the present planning rules fall far short of complying with European Directives. It also points out the environmental effects of wind farms and how they themselves cause climate change and in particular the potential effects on th Kirkby Moor SSI. It is published on Researchgate DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4393.3609

[http://www.cumbriawindwatch.co.uk/images/2/27/SLDC_Re_KM2_wind_farm_Final.pdf Commentary on Environmental Assessment for the Application to construct a new wind farm on Kirkby Moor, Cumbria. May 2015]

A summary can be found on the CWW blog under Latest news

This site has at present 12 turbines of 42m height. The proposal is to replace these with 6 of 115m height. The site is on the edge of the Lake District and is an SSSI

A Campaigning group has been formed - Stop Turbines Attacking Rural Cumbria (STARC).

Here is their message: Although we do have twelve turbines on the fell, (they are 42.4 m high and should never have had approval when initially installed. The original plan was turned down by a Public Enquiry, but then overturned by the government, at a time when wind energy was in its infancy and true consideration was not given to sites ) the company intend to replace them with six new ones which will be 115m high. That will be almost like having four Hoad monuments, one on top of the other overlooking the South Cumbrian landscape in all directions. We appreciate that this fell is outside the National Park but it is adjacent to the boundary and these monsters will be clearly visible for miles and miles and from many of the iconic view points of the Lake District National Park and southern and west Cumbria, north Lancashire and beyond.

Kirkby Moor is not only a geological Ridge but also a SSSI site (1991). Water courses may be affected and species, flora and fauna and invertebrates will be destroyed as well. The company have said that it is uneconomical to remove the present concrete bases, so they will stay in situ. The replacement turbines are to go on new locations which mean new, huge concrete bases and large standing bases for the cranes, an 80m mast, ancillary structures, plus new tracks, a new substation and new underground cables. Much of the delicate structure of this ancient moorland will be destroyed and the steel and plastic, manmade structures, will stand for another 25 years. We are deeply concerned as this delicate heather moorland (a scarce habitat within South Cumbria, with Kirkby Moor being the largest area) will go and although RWE have suggested that they will reclaim/replant/regenerate, we know that it has taken for ever for the moor to develop, for the peat to form and any heather regeneration will take well over 10/15 years.

This is of deep concern as this is a moor that should have the present turbines removed and then be returned to the people of Cumbria and beyond, as the lovely, open and wild area that, as a site, was considered important enough to have been originally granted SSSI (Site of special scientific interest) coverage in 1991.

We already have one of the largest off shore wind farms in Europe off the coast at Walney, as well as other wind farms locally and we feel that enough is enough. The cumulative effect of this means that the landscape of Cumbria will be totally altered with these additional enormous turbines and an area of such beauty, wilderness and openness will be gone.

This is also Common Land and has many public footpaths allowing access to its immense beauty. Any regeneration of the moor would necessitate the fencing off of areas for a long period to enable the regeneration to take effect. The potential presence of these turbines will be totally over powering in such a landscape. As some of us live very close to the Moor, we are, understandably, concerned regarding noise and flicker. It is now well documented that wind turbines can cause health problems in some, related to the noise and flicker.

It is noted from the Cumbria Landscape Character Guidance and Toolkit that as a Ridge, 'wind energy infrastructure should be sited and designed to reduce any adverse landscape and visual effects, particularly to the dispersed population'. The Vision states that 'this land will be conserved and enhanced' and 'Development will be carefully controlled in order to ensure ridges aren't cluttered or dominated by new development'. We so need your help to make sure that this is adhered to and the application is refused. To comment or object to this application go to applications.southlakeland.gov.uk/planningapplications/detail.asp