The Live Wire



Press Release

Drawing the line at Whinash

2 March 2006

Countryside campaigners CPRE [1] and Friends of the Lake District [2] are delighted by the refusal of the controversial application for a 27-turbine windfarm at Whinash on the edge of the Lake District National Park announced today (Thursday) by the Energy Minister, Malcolm Wicks. The proposal to extend the National Park can now proceed without the prospect of a large windfarm detracting from the quality of the landscape [3].

Andrew Forsyth, Executive Director of Friends of the Lake District which campaigned against the development commented:

‘I am delighted that Ministers have bowed to the weight of evidence on the visual, cultural and economic harm which a windfarm would have inflicted on this icon of upland beauty and tranquillity.’

‘The Government is intent on increasing renewable energy development but the Whinash proposal was a step too far,’ added Andrea Davies, CPRE Senior Natural Resources Campaigner. ‘That part of the Lake District will be spared for lovers of the upland countryside.’

– END –

NOTES FOR EDITORS

[1] CPRE, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, is a charity which promotes the beauty, tranquillity and diversity of rural England. We advocate positive solutions for the long-term future of the countryside. Founded in 1926, we have 60,000 supporters and a branch in every county. President: Sir Max Hastings. Patron: Her Majesty The Queen.

[2] Friends of the Lake District (FLD) represents CPRE in Cumbria. FLD campaigned against the development as part of the Friends of Bretherdale and gave evidence at the public inquiry.

[3] In 2005, the Countryside Agency Board asked officers to provide further advice about whether areas of land between the Yorkshire Dales and Lake District National Parks were worthy of designation as National Parks or Areas of Outstanding National Beauty. The area including Whinash Ridge meets the statutory criteria for designation as National Park; the Agency will consider an application in due course for the extension of the Lake District National Park which will include it.



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