A bad case of wind?
Morcambe Today

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a wind farm with turbines twice the size of Nelson's Column look likely to be given approval.

The operators of the wind farm on Caton Moor (pictured, right) Hainsford Energy have submitted an application to 'repower' the site.
Under the proposals the existing 10 turbines would be removed and replaced with eight, larger, masts which would increase the amount of electricity produced.
A similar application was refused last year because of fears the new masts would be a "monstrous eyesore" in an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
As a result of the application being turned down, Hainsford agreed to look at alternative sites and concluded all would be more expensive to develop than Caton Moor.
Lancaster City Council's planning committee will consider the application on Monday.
Planning bosses have recommended they be approved, despite 123 letters of objection, because the need to produce more energy from renewable sources "outweighs" the visual impact.
"The applicants have put forward an impressive case to demonstrate how the principle of the proposal is fully in line with the international and national drive towards energy generation from sustainable sources," explains a report to the committee. "If, as regional policy acknowledges, there must be further on shore wind farms, then it is better to site some of this development where harm already exists than to put further pressure on virgin sites."
The main objection is that the wind farm would spoil the landscape of the AONB.
Other objections include claims that they would be a hazard to low flying aircraft, would be noisy and increase traffic in Caton.
The case for the turbines suggests that because they would be bigger more energy would be produced.
It is also claimed the local economy will lose up to £2,250,000 of investment.

18 February 2004