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Greystoke Village Meeting on Berrier Hill Windfarm |
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Written by Mark Richards
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Thursday, 27 September 2007 |
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 I attended a village meeting at Greystoke last night, attended by in excess of ninety people. The overwhelming majority parishioners, but people from quite a wide area came too, knowing the implications of proliferation. The knowledgeable speaker was Dr Mike Hall from FELLS (Friends of Eden, Lakeland and Lunesdale Scenery - www.fells.info).
The topic has far-ranging implications on our greater landscape integrity. Wind farms only go to show the major dilemma facing politicians seeking to maintain more than a base level of energy for our modern society. They contribute such an insignificant proportion of needed electricity. All accept that the carbon footprint of the manufacture and installation cannot be reclaimed in their working life. When they become obsolete the 1000 tonne concrete base to each turbine is so massive that it can only be soiled over. Lord Sainsbury in a written answer to the House of Lord's select committee stated that to achieve the agreed proportion of renewable energy from wind farms, Britain would need to erect 15,000 turbines. They operate at under 30% efficiency. Lambrigg wind cluster, a comparable site to Berrier, has a year-round load factor efficiency of 24%. You can understand why I, and any right thinking person, would make strenuous efforts to fight of this alien invasion. A landscape devoid of wind farms allows the eyes liberty to gaze at will. A landscape containing a wind farm, no matter the number of turbines, capture every glance, animated, conspicuous, discordant, dominant, dragged into full frame from peripheral vision, they shackle the view. They have so many minuses, there are no mitigating virtues to justify their imposition on our land. Quite simply they are political lip-service. I can offer Sean's perspective no fence for sanctuary. You can download a four page feature as a PDF here (310KB) |
 The continued good fortune of being in Cumbria along with good weather, continued again on this outing, as a few OFC again gathered in Coniston. My intentions were not to stay in Coniston, but with £100 to give to Coniston MRT it seemed logical to overnight in Coniston for two nights in order to make the best of my time. Robbie K had already contacted me to say he would join me and Lorraine also hinted at a walk out. However, as with all things, matters can change but I was mighty pleased when those who said they would walk did so. Along with myself, Robbie, Lorraine and even Steven P joined me on the long ascent of the Walna Scar Road from the village. It really was a magic morning! |
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 This year I planned to be in Coniston over the Remembrance weekend. Great Gable, for many years my object of ascent on this iconic Sunday seemed a distant peak and so for practical purposes I set my sights on the summit of Great Carrs where I had visited the Halifax memorial on occasions before. With hindsight it turned out I was glad to ascend the mountain this day with four fellow OFc members, for although Great Gable was again graced by a large throng for the FRCC service, the top of Great Carrs saw but 9 to remember 8 brave men of the Canadian Royal Air Force who died there in October 1944. |
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| HAVE YOU SEEN? |
 Modern life takes it's toll on family relationships. Alan Nolan and his son, Ian, found themselves distanced from each other following Alan's divorce from his son's mother. For 20 years, they were apart. Ian lived in Italy and Alan in the UK. We were separated by a physical as well as an emotional distance, recalls Alan, who was determined to reignite the bond with his son. |
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 Having a brand is the new buzz word and I am afraid that AW has become a brand. Sadly, and I am sure he would hate this, when people mention AW in fellwalking circles, their ears prick up. Of course AW is to be admired, but when people start to abuse this name many years after his death I begin to feel that they might just have lost the plot. Although for anyone unfamiliar to AW, this book might be useful, however to most of us I think that investment in a very large barge pole will be the order. I don't want to slate the company that saved the Wainwright guides but come on Frances Lincoln, let's have some originality if you are going to use the great fellwalker's name to sell a book! |
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"I'd just like to say what a great weekend it has been and thanks to everyone who made it such a great time." Liz Lemal on the Honister 2007 weekend
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