Blimp shows turbine height

Campaigners fighting plans for a wind farm near the Naseby battlefield site say new proposals to move the turbines further east will make no difference to their visual impact for villagers.

Energy firm Eon wants to build seven 126.5 metre-high turbines on the Kelmarsh Hall estate and publicly displayed its plans during exhibitions at Naseby and Clipston village halls on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.

The original wind farm site - first revealed by Eon in February 2008 - was at Tallyho Covert, close to Haselbech.

But the latest plans place the turbines on lower ground further east, still south of the A14 but closer to Kelmarsh Hall.

Eon says this will create less visual impact on the villages of Naseby and Haselbech.

However Wendy Westall, of the Stop the Kelmarsh Wind Farm Campaign, said: "Everyone we spoke to visiting the Naseby exhibition disputed this."

The group flew a blimp at the height of 125m - close to the height of the tip of each turbine - at each exhibition to illustrate how tall the structures will be.

"The blimp was positioned within half a mile of Naseby and was visible for miles," said Mrs Westall.

"When Eon's exhibition moved to Clipston the blimp was positioned close to the site and again dramatically demonstrated the height of the turbines and the impact they would have on the surrounding communities.

"The site is home to great crested newts, bat colonies, badgers, migratory birds and other wildlife.

"There are five scheduled monuments within the grounds of Kelmarsh Hall and although the decision, for whatever reason, has been made to move the turbines, the fact remains that this site is totally unsuitable."

The group also fears access to the site, which would be along a single track road past the Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre in Kelmarsh, would create traffic problems in the village during construction.

But Daniel Badcock, project developer for Eon, said worried residents were being reassured and plans were in place to help cope with the predicted impact on traffic flow.

He added: "We have had a mix of positive and negative reactions so far.

"We will work with the farmers to manage the traffic and a traffic management plan will be in place.

"All of our studies have so far shown that the site is an excellent location for a wind farm."

The firm is hoping to submit a planning application for the project to Daventry District Council by the end of this year.

n For more information about the campaign group visit www.stopkelmarshwindfarm.co.uk.

Eon's website is www.eon-uk.com/generation/kelmarsh.aspx.