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Fears for bats sink bid for wind turbine on edge of Carlisle
Credit: By Duncan Bick | News & Star | 19 September 2015 | www.newsandstar.co.uk ~~
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Translate: FROM English | TO English
Plans for a wind turbine on the outskirts of Carlisle have been rejected – to help protect local bats.
H&H Group had wanted to build a 112ft high structure at their Borderway Mart on Montgomery Road in Rosehill.
But officials raised fears that some rare species of bat could be affected by the proposed development.
At a meeting of Carlisle City Council’s development control committee, members heard that H&H had proposed to monitor the effect on the local bat population with a regular search for dead bodies once the turbine – which would have measured 34.4m (112.9ft) from root to tip – was built and in operation between March and October.
The firm would then have taken action to stop any harm to the mammals. This could have included turning the turbine off for certain hours of the day.
But Angus Hutchinson, the authority’s principal development control officer, said there were many species of bats and some could be severely affected by the turbine.
He recommended to members that the application be rejected as a result of this, despite it having been recommended for approval in their papers.
Tom Woof, head of planning at H&H, said: “If you want to stop the turbine, do it when there are a lot of bats present.”
Several councillors also commented on the proposal.
Councillor Gerald Caig, the Labour member for Castle, commented on the fact the planned turbine would have a maximum capacity of 100kw per hour and seek to generate more than 200,000kw each year.
He said: “The return on CO2 on 100kw isn’t a lot, it isn’t going to save the world.”
Councillor Ray Bloxham, who represents Longtown, was unimpressed by H&H’s idea to record information on bat fatalities.
“That is an insult to all the people who have worked so hard throughout the years protecting species such as bats.”
The application was refused by members.
Councillors also refused permissions for a separate wind turbine application which would have been built at Croftlands, Orton Rigg, Great Orton.
There are already 17 in this area.
John Collier, the ward councillor for Brough, told members:“The local residents have had enough, they don’t want any more turbines.”
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