Turbine danger concerns
Published at 13:16, Friday, 10 February 2012
FEARS low-flying aircraft could be affected by a towering turbine could lead to plans for the structure being knocked back.
By Gareth Jones
Applications for turbines in Marton and at Sowerby Woods Business Park in Barrow are set to be heard at a meeting of Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday.
Members of the group are being recommended to accept one of the plans and reject the other.
Council officers have suggested the application for a 5kW turbine at Scale Bank Farm be approved.
A report prepared for the committee concluded the 15m structure would have no visual or ecological impact on the surrounding area.
However, the committee has been advised to reject the proposed 34.2m high turbine proposed by Neil Martin Group Ltd.
Planning officer Jason Hipkiss concluded the development, within the Sowerby Woods Business Park, should be rejected because it could put at risk aircraft flying in and out of Walney airfield.
He said: “In the opinion of the planning authority, the applicant has failed to provide suitable evidence to show that aviation safety within the area would not be compromised by the proposed wind turbine development in the manner identified by the airfield operator.”
Captain Malcolm Sewell, head of flying at Walney Airfield, said the development’s position would cause safety concerns if an aircraft suffered technical difficulties.
He said: “The location is significant because aircraft taking off from that runway will overfly the location within a very short time.
“Should the aircraft develop a problem which means the aircraft will not climb, or indeed if the worst occurred, was unable to maintain height, the area of Sowerby Wood is one which the aircraft captain would be searching for a suitable area to make a forced landing.”
In a statement prepared for the committee, the applicant said it believed it had addressed the concerns of the airfield by reducing the proposed height from 46m to 34.2m.
The company also consulted an independent aviation expert about other concerns raised by the airfield. The committee meets at 2.30pm at Barrow Town Hall on Tuesday.
Published by http://www.walneylocal.co.uk
Police warn Furness householders
- Police warn Furness householders
- Dad comes to the aid of flood-hit Walney nursery
- New name for Walney coastguard in wake of change (6 comments)
- Cumbria County Council election
- Walney coastguard to return to action after dispute (2 comments)
- Walney
- Women have lucky escape after being caught out by South Cumbria tides (1 comment)
- Motorist clocked speeding at 90mph on 30mph part of Walney road (13 comments)
- Bereaved Walney mum’s cardiomyopathy campaign
- Caring Walney girl bakes for Furness hospital
- Rogue trader targeted Walney pensioners
- Walney students step into their own Crime Scene Investigation
- Walney Coastguard volunteers in revolt over service’s safety (7 comments)
- New motorcycling Walney vicar
- Walney carnival to go ahead thanks to mum
- Hercules is Walney circus thriller
- Walney Channel boat graveyard concerns (5 comments)
- Barrow worker falsely claimed £30k-plus in benefits (5 comments)
- Walney circus sound system stolen
- Man was warned to stop Walney boat salvage
- Walney windfarm could be world’s largest (8 comments)
- Jet-ski ‘trauma’ for Walney seals
- Masons help Walney boy Bailey take road to freedom
- Construction equipment stolen from site of former Barrow school
- Walney church supporters close ranks against attackers
Vote
ENERGY FOR LIFE 5.1k WALNEY FAMILY FUN RUN
Did you enjoy the Energy For Life 5.1k Walney Family Fun Run?
• Click here to pledge to take part in next year's event on September 2, 2012
