Battle on to save Fylde's countryside

Fylde residents have ramped up their protests against plans for offshore wind farm cabling corridors, fearing serious impacts on the countryside.

- by Tony Durkin

If the Morgan and Morecambe offshore wind farm plans go ahead, power from 96 turbines, more than 20 miles offshore, would land near Squires Gate Lane and travel underground across Fylde to substations at Penwortham and between Freckleton, Kirkham and Newton with Scales.

While the turbines themselves have been granted planning permission, the highly controversial cable corridor project is currently in the examination stage, which means people can still have their say and attend hearings, with a final decision expected in around six months' time.

The latest Planning Inspectorate hearings on the proposal were held this week at the Village Hotel in Blackpool, where protestors gathered outside to make their voices heard.

A protest was also held in St Annes last month, where residents cited risks including wildlife disruption, destruction of green belt land and dunes, long noisy construction, road closures and negative effects on tourism, recreation, and local businesses.