Breadcrumbs
"An important day for England's finest landscapes," says the Countryside Agency - 2 March 2006
Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks and Rural Affairs Minister Jim Knight announced today that they had accepted the recommendations of the Inspector to refuse permission for a 27-turbine wind farm at Whinash in Cumbria.
Stuart Burgess, Chairman of the Countryside Agency said: “In our view the development would have damaged this wild, remote and highly sensitive landscape. While we are strongly in favour of renewable energy initiatives we have a duty to ensure that these nationally important landscapes are conserved for future generations.”
David Brooke, head of Planning and Finest Countryside at the Countryside Agency said: “This is an important day for England’s finest landscapes. The proposed wind farm at Whinash would have damaged two of England’s much-loved National Parks. Bordering the Lake District National Park, this development would have stretched five miles across a unique landscape towards the Yorkshire Dales National Park and could have been seen from a distance of over 12 miles.
“National Parks are established to give the nation the opportunity to enjoy open air recreation and a sense of tranquillity in landscapes of the highest quality. Future generations must also be given this opportunity.”
-ENDS-
For more information please contact the Countryside Agency press office on:
Matthew Heard: 01242 533476 or 07900 608 168
Beth Rose: 01242 533306 or 07900 608 052
-NOTES TO EDITORS-
The Countryside Agency
The Countryside Agency is the statutory body working to make the quality of life better for people in the countryside and the quality of the countryside better for everyone. It is a non-departmental body sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
The Agency is changing as the result of Defra's Rural Strategy (published in July 2004) and the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill which is expected to complete its passage through Parliament in spring 2006. The Bill includes changes to:
- establish a Commission for Rural Communities that will act as a rural advocate, expert adviser and independent watchdog, with a particular focus on disadvantage. Currently operating as a division of the Countryside Agency, the Commission will become an independent body when the Bill becomes law.
- form a single new body – Natural England – that will integrate the Landscape, Access and Recreation division of the Countryside Agency with English Nature and most of Defra’s Rural Delivery Service (RDS). Natural England will work for people, places and nature, with responsibility for enhancing biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promoting access, recreation and public well-being, and contributing to the way natural resources are managed – so that they can be enjoyed now and by future generations.
These changes are expected to come into effect in October 2006, at which point the Countryside Agency will cease to exist.
We may be changing, but our skills, knowledge and enthusiasm will continue to benefit people in rural England. To find out more about our work, and for information about the countryside, visit our website: www.countryside.gov.uk
