Formby Civic Society chairman says the wind farm will have an impact on Formby

Formby Civic Society chair John Phillips points out that the wind farm will impact on our town

This is an example image of preparation and enormous excavation that is required for each turbine.

The windfarm is seen by many as an industrialisation of our local countryside. The turbines will be a catastrophic blight on the local landscape to all the surrounding towns and villages. In addition to the 12 turbines, the company plans to install a wind monitoring mast, an onsite substation and underground cables, they will also need to build access roads and tracks.

As the deadline for objections looms, the chair of Formby Civic Society has spoken out on the subject.

John Phillips has written to his members, and pointed out that although the wind farm is not in Formby, it is likely to affect the town.

The plans, put forward by Coriolis energy , are for 12 wind turbines, which will stretch to 136.5m in height are planned, along with an on-site substation and associated works.

Mr Phillips' letter reads: "As we approach the deadline date of 29th January for objections to the 12 Wind Turbines at Lower Alt wind farm in West Lancashire, it is a good time to reflect on the increasing number of challenges to our local communities and the part we can play in ensuring that there is a strong local response each time. With increasing direction from central Government to communities across the country, it almost seems that we are fighting a losing battle.

"However, we do still have a voice in our own affairs and it is for us to put ourselves out to play our part in monitoring and protecting our environment.

"This is not ‘Nimbyism’ and most people are well aware of national needs and the importance of our communities moving forward. We cannot stand still. The key is that local residents maintain awareness of proposed developments and use their local knowledge of our heritage and environment to support positive and well thought-through proposals that will benefit our community and challenge those that will diminish the area in which we live.

"The proposed wind farm mentioned above is not in Formby, but would certainly have a negative impact on our town with turbines at a height of 447 feet / 136.5 metres, well over double the size of the existing pylons. The objection, though, is by no means related solely to our local community; it affects large areas of Sefton and West Lancashire.

"I am making two points here. One is general in that we can protect our environment only if we are aware of proposals that are made and are open to public debate, in which case we can all play our part as we see fit.

Secondly, my objection to the wind farm is a personal statement and does not officially represent the views of Formby Civic Society; however, we have alerted members to this issue and it is now for them to decide what they think of the proposal. I certainly hope that those members who agree with me take the time to register their objections to West Lancashire Borough Council by email or post. As it happens, I have yet to speak to a member who thinks the wind farm would benefit our corner of Sefton and South Lancashire."

This is where the proposed site will be.

If you would like to oppose the wind farm, you ONLY HAVE UNTIL FRIDAY 29th JANUARY TO DO SO. You can email or post your letter to West Lancs Council, letters must be received by the Council no later than Friday 29th January 2016 - disregard the cut-off date of January 13th given on West Lancs Council's website, this is incorrect and unfortunately cannot be changed. Email letters to this email address - Email: plan.apps@westlancs.gov.uk

There will be TWELVE towers the size of the Liverpool Radio City Tower right on our doorstep of Formby. Twelve wind turbines each standing at a colossal 447 feet high, just 5 feet shorter than the Radio City tower. They will be the tallest structures in Merseyside aside from the tower itself. They are even taller than the wind turbines out at Burbo Bank.

This is the sample letter which has been prepared by HALT and is easy to copy and paste and just fill in your own name and address:

West Lancashire Borough Council

PO Box 16

52 Derby Street

Ormskirk

L39 2DF

Email to: plan.apps@westlancs.gov.uk

___ January 2016

Dear Sirs,

Re: Installation of 12 wind turbines of up to 136.5m in height, two wind monitoring masts, substation, access tracks and associated ancillary infrastructure. Land to the West, Cabin Lane, Great Altcar, West Lancashire. Planning Application Ref: 2015/1055/FUL

I write to object to the planning application mentioned above.

I object to the planning application on the following grounds:

1. The development site is not in an area identified as suitable for wind energy development in West Lancashire Borough Council’s Local Plan.

2. The scheme will harm the landscape and completely change the fabric, character and quality of the landscape.

3. The turbines are enormous and completely out of keeping with the local area. They would become the defining characteristic of our local area and landscape.

4. My family and I regularly walk, cycle and drive through the area to enjoy the countryside. Our enjoyment of the Green Belt and the wider area as well as the footpaths and cycle paths would be ruined and, rather than making use of the Green Belt, we would avoid the area as much as we could.

5. The constant noise of the turbines will mean that we stop visiting the area and stop using the cycle and footpaths.

6. The turbines will make my local area and my home an unpleasant place to live. I will no longer be able to enjoy my garden or the views from my house because the amenity will be dominated by views of giant wind turbines and their continuous noise. The noise from the construction site, especially the proposed concrete piling will be unbearable.

7. I enjoy there being an area of Green Belt where there is little artificial light. The site will need lots of new roads, lighting and industrial buildings and the area will become like any other industrial zone – full of artificial light.

8. There are already enough wind turbines in this area. We can see them to the south in Seaforth and on Liverpool Docks and near to the cost line on Burbo Bank and North Wales. If this scheme goes ahead we will see turbines everywhere we look. If more turbines are needed then why not add a couple more on the docks or out to sea – where they are already?

9. My enjoyment of important buildings such as Sefton Church will be ruined because the presence and noise of turbines will completely change the feel and views of these buildings.

10. It is a waste of good farmland. The developer intends to pour thousands of tonnes of concrete into the Green Belt and destroy the peat, the soil and remove the farmland from use for the production food.

11. The look and feel of the site will change with all of the new roads, ditches, buildings, lighting and traffic. The site is historic and its look and feel should be maintained.

12. The effect on local wildlife will be disastrous including on Pink Footed Geese, birds of prey and songbirds. Lots of our birds will be killed, displaced or disturbed and our enjoyment of our wildlife will be harmed.

13. There will be traffic chaos at Switch Island, Brooms Cross and Formby Bypass, particularly at the Tesco junction and the Hightown turn offs. All the commuter traffic will use short cuts through Little Crosby, Thornton, Netherton, Ince Blundell and Maghull to avoid two years’ of construction traffic and the huge increase in HGV traffic and slow moving lorries.

14. The area regularly floods and the water table in and around my house is already very high. The scheme will increase flood risk, affect the water table and pollute the underground water.

15. The shadow flicker caused by the sun and the turbines will ruin my enjoyment of the Green Belt, the footpaths and cycle paths and my enjoyment of the local area.

16. Coriolis claim they consulted my community about the proposal which is not true. They gave us no or very short notice of public meetings.

17. The only people who get any benefit from this development is the Leverhulme Estate – none of the beneficiaries of that estate live in the area, Coriolis who are based in Berkshire and the Irish electricity company. The turbines will be manufactured overseas. Once the site is built they will need less local labour that would farm the land they have spoilt.

For the reasons given above and the impacts of the proposed development, the proposal does not have my backing.

Yours faithfully,

If you want to find out more, please take a look at the H-ALT website by CLICKING HERE