Tuesday next week sees the resumption of the enquiry into a windfarm on the edge of the Lake District. "The scheme could ruin one of Britain's most beautiful landscapes", warn campaigners. The focus of this part of the enquiry will be on the impact of the scheme on the landscape. A spokesperson from the Berrier Windfarm Opposition Group said "It would destroy one of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain."
As we look upon this threatened landscape, little thought seems to be given to have been given to the impact on our visual amenities of the large scale windfarms sited offshore. Turning through 180 degrees, on a clear day from the summit of Blencathra, we see the offshore windfarm of Robin Rigg - some 60 or so turbines, (nominally) located within Scottish territorial waters; easily visible from Maryport; and built without the need for formal planning consent. Plans are afoot to double the size of this windfarm.
The site of this windfarm is the Solway Estuary - an area of outstanding natural beauty which is being turned into an industrial production facility, which begs the question "Why should a skyline be somehow more valuable as a visual amenity than a seascape?"
