Anger at second turbine scheme in Northumberland 

Landowners involved in a controversial wind farm project in Northumberland have been accused of ignoring local opinion after details emerged of a new turbine proposal on their property.

Causey Park Farms Ltd near Morpeth has already allowed a wind developer to propose a massive turbine on its land as part of a scheme which yielded over 1,000 objections.

Now it has emerged that a different company is looking at siting two more turbines on its land.

The news has angered opponents of the first scheme who have accused the landowner of ignoring the views of local people and of seeking to make money at their expense.

The landowner has, however, hinted it is unlikely to allow the new project to proceed and told how he has rebuffed two other approaches from developers.

Causey Park Farms allowed Energiekontor UK Ltd to propose one of its five planned 126m turbines at Fenrother, on its land.

That application resulted in more than 1,600 letters of objection and opposition from a local action group, two local parish councils, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England, Northumberland National Park, Morpeth Civic Society and the Northumberland Badger Group.

It was refused by Northumberland County Council but the developer appealed, triggering a public inquiry.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles has said he will determine the appeal, with his decision awaited.

Now, it has emerged that wind company 3R Energy Solutions has contacted the county council about the possibility of putting two 74m turbines on a different site owned by Causey Park Farms.

The news last night sparked anger from Dr James Lunn, of the action group, who said: “The landowners who have proposed the Fenrother wind farm, the most opposed planning application in recent county history, are amazingly continuing to go against local opinion and have entered discussions for more wind turbines on their land, this time near Felmoor Holiday Park.”

In a reference to Peter Hogg, a partner and director at Causey Park Farms and a member of Tritlington and West Chevington Parish Council, he added: “It appears there is one parish councillor and landowner who feels that despite such strong local opposition to wind farms they have a right to rake in huge financial subsidy at the bill payers’ expense regardless of the harms it causes.”

Last night, Mr Hogg said 3R Energy Solutions had approached the farming company and asked to visit the site to assess suitability for turbines.

While he said they had been allowed to attend, Mr Hogg said he believed the firm would be told they would not be allowed to proceed due to the proximity to a local airfield.

Mr Hogg furthermore told how Causey Park Farms had previously rebuffed two approaches from wind developers, for the same reason.

Responding to Dr Lunn’s comments about financial gain, he claimed people in the area would stand to gain from the Fenrother project community benefit fund.

“Everyone benefits from something in some way. The benefit of one wind turbine will be a tenth of his salary.”