CONTROVERSIAL wind turbine plans, submitted by one of Workington’s biggest employers, were yesterday rejected by Allerdale councillors.
CONTROVERSIAL wind turbine plans, submitted by one of Workington’s biggest employers, were yesterday rejected by Allerdale councillors.
They feared the 50-metre high structure, at the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS), could scupper future regeneration projects.
The main worry was the redevelopment of the nearby Corus rail-rolling site, which is set to close this year.
Members of the council’s development panel said there are new opportunities for this land to be transformed for tourism and housing.
However, they feared this would be put at risk if a huge turbine was so nearby.
They voted against the application, although the final decision lies with the Govern ment, as the Derwent Howe site is on crown land.
BCMS has applied to build the two-blade structure at its Curwen Road base in a bid to cut its energy bills.
It would measure almost 50 metres to the hub, or 64 …
They feared the 50-metre high structure, at the British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS), could scupper future regeneration projects.
The main worry was the redevelopment of the nearby Corus rail-rolling site, which is set to close this year.
Members of the council’s development panel said there are new opportunities for this land to be transformed for tourism and housing.
However, they feared this would be put at risk if a huge turbine was so nearby.
They voted against the application, although the final decision lies with the Govern ment, as the Derwent Howe site is on crown land.
BCMS has applied to build the two-blade structure at its Curwen Road base in a bid to cut its energy bills.
It would measure almost 50 metres to the hub, or 64 metres to the blade tip.
This is slightly higher than the existing windfarm at Old side, where individual structures measure 40.5 metres, or 60.5 metres to the tip.
However, Siddick factory Voridian already has permis sion to build two much bigger turbines at its site, measuring 107 metres in total.
But despite the existing per missions, there were concerns about its location.
If granted, this structure would be the only wind turbine on the southern side of the river and officers felt it may look lost.
In addition it would only have two blades, when all the others have three.
The company explained that manufacturers now only make the smaller turbines with two blades, so it was not able to amend this.
Ian Francis told yesterday’s meeting that the proposal was not acceptable in visual terms as it would be seen from right across the town.
Meanwhile Michael Davidson said it was important to look at the bigger picture.
He told fellow councillors: “We all know we are soon going to have to try and redevelop the Corus site. This is going to influence the sort of thing we can do down there.”