As regular CFZ-watchers will know, for some time Corinna has been doing a column for Animals & Men and a regular segment on On The Track... particularly about out-of-place birds and rare vagrants. There seem to be more and more bird stories from all over the world hitting the news these days so, to make room for them all - and to give them all equal and worthy coverage - she has set up this new blog to cover all things feathery and Fortean.

Saturday, 27 April 2013

Is no landscape safe? Open Spaces Society fights turbines in Forest of Bowland area of outstanding natural beauty

Forest of Bowland is the only breeding site for Hen harriers in England
The Open Spaces Society, the leading pressure-group for common land, has objected most strongly to plans from Community Windpower Ltd to erect 10 wind turbines on common land in the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Lancashire. The application has been submitted to Lancaster City Council and is the company's third attempt to put turbines on the lovely Claughton Moor and Whit Moor. 

The Open Spaces Society is backing Stop Claughton Turbines and many other objectors to the scheme. The original plan was for 20 turbines, which was rejected by the council, then for 13 and now for 10. 

Kate Ashbrook, the society's general secretary, said: ‘The hillside is in the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is common land and open country where people have the right to walk. If wind turbines are allowed here, in this beautiful, popular and much loved place, no landscape can be safe. 

‘The development conflicts with the statutory purposes of the AONB and would destroy people's quiet enjoyment of the area. Because it is common land, the developers would need consent from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for works on the common, in addition to planning consent. The Open Spaces Society is by law notified of all applications for works on common land and would definitely object to this one. 

‘We strongly urge Lancaster City Council once again to reject this damaging application,' Kate concludes. 

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