Government rejects wind farm plans

Ministers have rejected plans to construct a wind farm in Cumbria.

If the £55 million deal had gone ahead, 27 turbines would have been erected at Bretherdale and Roundthwaite commons at Whinash, near Tebay.

A public inquiry into the project was held last year. Environmental groups such as Greenpeace had supported the plans, but other campaigners raised concerns about the impact the wind farm would have on the local countryside.

Both Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks and Rural Affairs Minister Jim Knight accepted the recommendations of inquiry inspector David Rose and refused permission for the wind farm to go ahead.

Both ministers said that they accepted Mr Rose's conclusions that the effects on the landscape and its value for recreation would be "so serious" that they would outweigh the benefits of securing a renewable energy source and the need to address climate change.

Mr Wicks said: "Tackling global warming is critical, but we must also nurture the immediate environment and wildlife. This is at the crux of the debate over wind energy.

"On this occasion, we agree with the independent inspector that the impact on the landscape and recreation would outweigh the benefits in terms of reducing carbon emissions.

"I know there was both support and opposition to the Whinash development, but I hope the winner here is the planning system, which has to be robust in its assessment of the merits of each proposals. Our commitment to renewable energy remains firm."

However, Stephen Tindale, Executive Director of Greenpeace, said: "Any government that wants to expand airports and turn down wind farms is simply not fit to govern.

"Climate change will ravage beautiful areas like the Lake District. I hope those responsible will be willing to explain to future generations how they played their part in allowing the savage grip of global warming to trash the countryside and claim hundreds of thousands of lives."

(KMcA/GB)