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Last night I attended the community meeting at the hamlet of Berrier, within the parish of Greystoke. We should be incensed by Neville Howard's audacity at putting in a planning application to erect nine monster wind turbines plumb in front of Blencathra, half-a-mile from the National Park boundary. Cocking a snoop at his forefathers (Tarzan included), the present community and the nation, who voted Lakeland the most beautiful view in Britain. Cumbria is the only county whose economy is in decline, its greatest industry is tourism, its greatest asset - its the crown jewels - its mountain landscape. A landscape that has changed little for a thousand years and more. Cumbria has forfeit more than its fair share to energy creation, witness Sellafield, there must be no coyness about resisting so-called green energy. Wind turbines are pure lip-service to green energy. The A66 is the northern gateway to The Lakes, everyone who enters will have more than their peripheral vision assailed by this outrageous industrial monstrosity. Whinash was very correctly rejected. Berrier Hill is the next, ever more outrageous, challenge to the integrity of Lakeland. A steel noose is about to tighten around our most precious mountain landscape. A manacle that will damage outlooks from the fells for generations and insidiously spoil the aesthetic feel of the near periphery of the Park. I am joining forces with the community and intend to play my part in putting this on the national stage. Sir Chris Bonington, Doug Scott and Lord Bragg have voiced their dismay, now it is for us fellwalkers to play into the fight! I have prepared an initial graphic showing the view from Berrier Hill.  The View from Berrier Hill (click on image for a larger version) I am going to prepare more artwork for the campaign website www.blencathra.net (now published) and for the community to use in publicity. Cumbria magazine have already commissioned an article from me on this for their January issue. All members with popular websites, with high hits, would do well to fight the good fight. I will keep you abreast of developments. Mark You may comment on the planning proposal using Eden District Council's Online Planning form Blencathra photograph by Andrew Leaney |
