£5m windfall from East Lancashire turbine firm (From Lancashire Telegraph)

£5m windfall from East Lancashire turbine firm

2:10pm Thursday 30th July 2009 in Belthorn

AN ENERGY company’s windfarm bid could create a fund of more than £5million for community groups and schools.

But the promise of a huge cash windfall has failed to quell the protests of residents who would live closest to the proposed wind farm on Oswaldtwistle Moor.

Applicant Energie Kontor’s pledge to distribute a minimum of £100,000 a year across Hyndburn, should plans go ahead, would see £2.5million donated to the area through environmental charity Prospects.

A community fund would then be set up, over the 25-year lifetime of the windfarm, with Prospects claiming it would “easily be able to double” the figure with match funding.

The fund would then be available to groups for environmental projects. Plans for cycleways, allotments, vegetable plots, and even ‘mini’ wind turbines and solar panels, would all be eligible.

However the proposals have not found favour with some Belthorn residents, where dozens claim it would create noise, ruin views, affect wildlife and would be too inefficient.

Residents will meet to discuss the plans at the Dog Inn, Belthorn on Monday at 8pm.

A spokesman for Energie Kontor said: “The majority of residents appear to be behind us and we have been meticulous in making sure the wind farm layout is unobtrusive. The nearest property is 600 metres away.”