Stank wind turbines ‘could put flying bats at risk’
Last updated at 13:45, Friday, 18 May 2012
A RURAL community has united in opposing plans for a wind turbine.
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More than 30 letters of complaint have been registered against plans for an 11kW wind turbine in Stank.
But Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee could choose to accept plans for the 18m structure in Stank Lane.
The application, which has been submitted by John Cooper, will be discussed at Tuesday’s meeting, which takes place at Barrow Town Hall at 2.30pm.
Complaints have been registered from residents in Stank, Newton, Barrow, Dalton and Ulverston.
Issues raised include the belief that the mast could be seen from Furness Abbey, the effect it will have on wildlife, that tourists may be deterred from the area and the potential noise and flicker created by the turbine.
And several residents have said the turbines could put the local bat population at risk.
A resident of Newton Cross Road in Newton called for a bat survey to be carried out, saying: “I often see bats flying around my garden at dusk on warm summer evenings and on return from the Stank area at the same time of year have seen them as I have driven down the hill towards Newton School.”
A statement prepared for the applicant by agent Philip Mather said the development will help to cut carbon emissions.
He said: “The development will generate electricity for Stank Farm which is a rural enterprise and working farm.
“The applicant is committed to reducing their fuel costs as well as their environmental and carbon footprints. This application is essential in achieving this ambition.”
In a report prepared for the committee, planning officer Jason Hipkiss stresses that all turbine applications should be dealt with separately and recommended the plans be accepted as they do not conflict with planning policy.
He said: “Members are aware of the campaign against the principle of on-shore turbine developments within the borough.
“In this respect there are several representations against this application that are also replicated for all the other submissions that have been submitted.
“However, I am satisfied that members are aware that each application, while raising several themes common across the majority of these submissions, must be dealt with on its individual merits.”
First published at 13:42, Friday, 18 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
the planning officer has missed the point not everyone is opposed to on shore or off shore carefully sited turbines this turbine is slap bang in the centre of a village where real people live. This is the point!
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I would rather have a wind turbine in every garden than a nuclear/biomass power plants. There are dangers in everything and it is the monitoring and maintainance that are the key. I would happily have a turbine on my land(if I had land). I would argue that turbines are an eyesore. I actually quite like them but even if I didn't I accept that they are a much less aggresive way of sourcing power on our already abused planet and complaining about them on an aesthetic level is laughable. Times have changed and people must learn to adapt.
Posted by Karen on 14 June 2012 at 06:35