Lake District Park Authority offers backing to farm turbines

The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has announced it will take a more ‘pro-active’ approach when looking at applications for small turbines of up to 30 metres high.

The change in outlook is intended to help farmers who are keen to offset the rising costs of electricity that is threatening to push many farms under.

John Geldard, of Low Foulshaw Farm, Kendal, said: “Any form of producing or conserving energy, with the challenges that we have in front of us, should always be looked at however great or small. It is heartening that the planners are recognising the importance of looking at all the options.”

Carissa Lough, LDNPA policy planner, told farmers at a meeting: “We do object to large-scale commercial wind developments even if they are outside the National Park boundary. That is why there is a perception that we would say no to any kind of wind development.

“We are now more active in telling farmers they have this option. The policy has not changed but our new policy on renewable energy that we’re adopting in September, is written in a more pro-active way.”

According to wind energy expert Mark Newton, of Farming Futures, ‘every farm in the UK will have a wind turbine in five years' time’, and he believes that with 75 per cent of the UK's land in the agricultural sector, on-farm wind power could be a significant business opportunity for farmers and land managers.

Dr Jonathan Scurlock, the NFU's Chief Adviser on renewable energy and climate change, said: "The NFU's aspiration is that every farmer should have the opportunity to be a net exporter of low-carbon energy. National targets and government incentives for renewable energy are creating significant new business opportunities."

yes2wind supports the change in stance of the LDNPA although still has reservations about the amount of influence wielded by national park authorities over wind farm planning applications that are outside national park boundaries. The change in stance by the LDNPA is to be appluaded and should be emulated by other national park authorities.