Cumbrian politicians say lift of turbine ban is positive for the area

It comes despite some concerns that wind farms being built in Cumbria could affect the landscape and living conditions for residents.

Mark Jenkinson, who used to be the MP for Workington, a constituency in which there were several turbines built before planning rules were tightened in 2015, said to the BBC that he fears the area would ‘become open season for developers’.

This is a view shared by Bridekirk Parish Council member Roy Stenson, who also told the BBC that he would object to more wind farms being built in his area, and that no one wants to live next to them.

Landscape charity Friends of the Lake District campaigned to halt the extension of the life of a wind farm at Kirby Moor in 2019, citing the impact on ‘landscape, heritage, noise and residential amenity impacts, impacts on the setting of the National Park’.

They were approached for a comment on the central government’s decision but declined to do so.

There were fears it would impact the wildlife in the Isle of Man, where a wind farm has been proposed.

John Corteen of Bee and Blossom Farm holiday cottages on the island said a project by Manx Utilities could be ‘hugely damaging’ and could affect birds.

NatureScot, Scotland’s main nature agency, said wind farms present three main potential risks to birds – death through collision or interaction with turbine blades, direct habitat loss through wind farm construction, and displacement through indirect loss of habitat if disturbance causes birds to avoid the wind farm and surrounds.

However, the bigger picture is being missed, as Tom Adams, chair of Carlisle and District Green Party, said the climate crisis is ‘an existential threat’ which ‘should be seen as being on the same level as the financial crash, Covid, and World War 2’.

He said the threat of the Nazis was easy to see and understand, hence it leading to the country’s government setting aside much of the nation’s budget to fight it.

With the climate, however, he said there’s ‘a case to be made to educate the public on the extent of this threat’.

“When we’re talking about on-shore wind it needs to be put on that backdrop,” he added.

Tom Adams (Image: Supplied)

The ban was initially caused by footnotes on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which governs the construction of new homes and infrastructure.

They only applied to on-shore wind and necessitated strong evidence that there was no local opposition which made building these turbines impossible as there is almost always some local resistance to any planning application.

These footnotes were scrapped by Labour in mere days since taking charge which now means wind farms are on the same level as any other sort of infrastructure, and subject to the same planning laws.

Mr Adams said the Greens also would have moved to lift the ban, but would have gone further in investment.

“Labour plans to invest £8.3billion with GB Energy (a proposed state-run energy company).

“That’s all good so far, but it doesn't go far enough.”

He said the Greens would have invested £40billion and covered the cost on windfall taxes on polluting oil companies and tax rises for the mega-wealthy.

“The idea that there’s no money there is nonsense,” he said, adding that during World War 2 an effective £500billion was set aside in modern money for war, but pressure groups and oil lobbyists have influenced the narrative and suppressed scientific information being taken on board.

On the subject of money, he added: “We’re more interested in getting energy bills down – if you invest in on-shore wind farms you get that.

“You get these concerns that renewable investment is at odds with the landscape, and my feeling is that people are objecting to bringing forward plans that would mitigate the climate emergency.”

He said a way to tackle this is more community engagement and public consultation so they’re involved from day one.

“The alternative is to continue down the fossil fuel road, which will put up energy bills and ultimately affect the landscape even more,” he concluded.

Julie Minns, Labour MP for Carlisle, said: “Carlisle and North Cumbria are on the frontline of climate change.

Julie Minns (Image: Supplied)

“Just ask the residents of Carlisle who were flooded, not once but twice in the space of ten years, or talk to the farmers dealing with flooded fields and water-logged ground after one of the wettest winters on record. 

“Tackling climate change isn't just a social imperative, it's at the heart of Labour's approach to growth.

“Lifting the ban on new onshore wind and doubling onshore wind generation by 2030 are key parts of our plan to decarbonise the grid and boost energy security with renewables and nuclear. 

“GB Energy will be a publicly-owned company to drive investment in clean, home-grown energy.

“It will create jobs and build supply chains all over the UK, including Cumbria, and bring down energy bills.”

Addressing concerns held by some of the impact it would have on the landscape, she said they were ‘understandable’, but added that she’s seen ‘persuasive research’ from the University of California’s  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory which showed most people living within five miles, or even half a mile, of wind farms don’t mind the turbines.

“Wind farms bring community benefits too.

“For example, Beck Burn near Longtown has paid more than £1million in grants for improvements to local village halls and sports facilities since it began generating electricity in 2017,” she concluded.

READ MORE: Carlisle MP Julie Minns welcomes probe into United Utilities