Wind farms could blight tourist trail

By [slawlor]

HUNDREDS of turbines could soon blight a tourist trail celebrating the life of Alfred, Lord Tennyson, wind farm protesters claim.

The 120-mile Tennyson Trail was unveiled to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the poet's birth and runs from Louth to Grasby, near Caistor, via Skegness.

But the Baumber Windfarm Action Group (BWAG) has released its own version of the track which highlights more than 10 locations of existing and proposed wind farm sites near the path.

BWAG group chairman Melvin Grosvenor said visitors would not be able to escape the sound and sight of turbines if energy companies were allowed to develop in the area.

"What we are facing is the increase of turbines," he said.

"There is one coming into planning soon, there are proposed sites and we believe there are another 120 potential ones being looked at throughout the county.

"We are very concerned about the landscape around the Lincolnshire Wolds and the views."

BWAG is currently fighting plans from renewable energy company Enertrag UK to create an eight-turbine wind farm close to Baumber, between Wragby and Horncastle. If built, the farm could provide green energy for up to 8,000 homes.

Mr Grosvenor claims the county could lose one of its greatest selling points.

"Lincolnshire is a county renowned for its landscape and tourism is a major asset," he said.

Tennyson expert and local tourist guide Jean Howard developed the 27 boards which line the trail and said she had noticed turbines had changed the area's skyline.

"One of my favourite viewpoints is when you travel on the main road between Horncastle and Louth," she said.

"The view I point out as a guide is St James' Church spire. But the Conisholme turbines impact upon that. It's difficult to see the spire."

East Lindsey District Council spokesman James Gilbert said all applications for wind farms would be considered on their own merits.

"Should an application be received for wind energy development near Baumber, or anywhere else in East Lindsey, then all material planning considerations, including national, regional and local planning policies, will be taken into account," he said.

"Any planning application will, of course, be subject to extensive consultation enabling local residents to express their views on the planning merits of the proposal."