Frodsham campaign group in support of Peel Energy’s Frodsham Marshes wind turbine application

Feb 11 2010 by Barry Ellams, Chester Chronicle

Frodsham campaign group in support of Peel Energy’s Frodsham Marshes wind turbine application

RESIDENTS backing Peel Energy’s proposal for a giant wind farm on Frodsham and Helsby marshes have gone head-to-head with protestors aiming to topple the scheme.

Opponents, led by Frodsham resident Roger Young and town councillor Tony Hinkins, have been campaigning against the controversial project under the banner Residents Against the Windfarm (RAW).

They fear Peel’s proposal for up to 21 wind turbines, each 412ft high, on the green belt marshes site would be a “monstrous presence.”

However homeowners from Frodsham, Helsby and Elton have entered the fray by setting up Mersey Wind Energy Supporters (MWES) which welcomes the Peel project.

They will launch their own website to rally community support.

Elton resident David Hardman, of MWES, said: “This is a well-timed opportunity to play a part in reducing CO2 emissions.

“Peel claim the proposed wind farm would meet more than a quarter of Cheshire’s renewable energy target for 2020, and there’s a range of other local, regional and national issues this project will help overcome.”

“Peel got several people together after the company’s public exhibitions last November where we expressed support for the Frodsham wind farm. It was nothing insidious and I’m very glad they did. Peel answered all the pretty hard questions but our group was left to take on an independent life of its own.

MWES member Professor Andrew Basden said his Frodsham home overlooks the marsh and would affect the view he has enjoyed for more than 20 years.

He said: “I’d get used to it. I’ve long thought there should be wind generators there. But then there’s all this brouhaha from protestors and everything seems to be stacking against it, but I think there are actually just as many supporters for this proposal as opponents.

Objectors claim the proposed turbines are too close to homes; noise from rotating blades would impact on residents and would disturb an important wildlife refuge.

Prof Basden explained: “All the arguments against wind farms I have heard pale into insignificance weighed against some of the benefits and the major motivating principles.

“Visual change is much less important than reducing the degree of destruction due to climate change. I seldom hear an anti-wind person protesting against real eyesores such as pylons and mobile phone installations.

“As for noise, the M56 motorway is closer to homes than the wind farm would be and is much noisier.”

“I would prefer slightly fewer turbines than Peel is proposing, but if it’s a case of all or nothing, I would prefer all 21.

Both groups will battle it out at a town council-led public meeting at Frodsham Community Centre on March 12 at 8pm.