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John Ruskin described the view from Kirkby Lonsdale up the Lune Valley as "one of
the loveliest in England". Today, beautiful Lunesdale is under threat of industrialisation.
There is a distinct probability that the tops of these majestic fells will be populated
by giant wind turbines in the next few years unless urgent action is taken to prevent
this happening.
click to enlarge
Lancaster City Council has been approached by a company named Cornwall Light and Power (CLP) for what is known as a scoping assessment. This defines what the City Council will expect CLP to include in the Environmental Statement accompanying their planning application for five huge wind turbines (no longer three as originally proposed) to be sited on Cragg Lot which is close to the road linking Over Kellet and Arkholme in the Lune Valley. See our Photo Gallery for how these turbines will appear from various points in the valley and surrounding countryside. It may well not stop there. Click for details
The proposed turbines will be 125 metres high (over 400 feet), which is nearly 40%
higher than the new turbines on Caton Moor above the Lune Valley, and will disfigure
the landscape for miles around. Look at the double decker bus to see how the turbines
will dominate the valley.
Approximately 30% of the income is from selling the electricity generated. The remaining 70% of income is generated by government manipulated indirect subsidies and this is added to the cost of electricity and charged to you, the consumer, as a hidden surcharge on your bill. You are already paying this subsidy on all electricity however it is generated. The National Audit Office in its report dated 11th February 2005 considered that onshore wind is one third over subsidised.
Do you really want to pay more than you do now just to put fat profits into the pockets of companies and landowners who are cynically exploiting your landscape?
See how the subsidy system works for details.
Wind turbine output is extremely small and unreliable compared with conventional power generation. It is also difficult to justify to a consumer on any economic grounds.
However this is not so for the turbine site developer.
This is because the construction and operation of onshore wind turbine sites in the UK is all about chasing subsidies.
Click the diagram to enlarge
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED
Planning application for windfarm between Kirkby Lonsdale and Kendal
Objections must be submitted before May 23rd 2008
and