Last updated at 10:01, Friday, 06 June 2008

AS ONE who lives within two miles of the proposed Newlands Wind Farm I have read carefully the community newsletter distributed by Bolsterstone Plc which will be building these three massive wind turbines and making money out of them for the next 25 years.

Wind turbines

The newsletter states that windfarms are ‘one of the most reliable and cost-effective renewable generation technologies’.

This makes me wonder whether a company that makes such absurd claims is fit to be involved in this important project.

Even a child can see that a method of generation that depends on the right wind speed is inherently unreliable.

The lights would go out and the power would go off very often if we had to depend on windfarms.

The claim about cost-effectiveness is almost equally ridiculous.

These turbines would not be built unless there was a considerable element of government subsidy, although the proponents of these schemes prefer to use the word ‘incentives’.

The newsletter promises that, if planning permission is received, the local community will benefit by £15,000 a year over the next 25 years.

Yet this is taxpayers’ money.

It comes out of the pockets of local residents, among others, and some of these residents will find that their homes have been seriously devalued by these turbines which will reach a height of 350ft.

Who has asked the locals whether they want to be overshadowed by these monsters?

The answer is no-one.

The money has been taken from us by a Government that seems determined to ruin our beautiful Cumbrian landscape. When they talk about reducing pollution they conveniently ignore the visual pollution they are imposing on us.

I attended the public exhibition at Cumwhinton Village Hall and communicated a brief message to the representatives of Bolsterstone Plc.

It was just two words: “Go away”.

If the planners allow this appalling development, maybe the residents of Cumwhinton, Scotby and Wetheral should withhold their council tax en masse.

The prisons are full, so where would they put us?

Most of us want to be law-abiding citizens, but there comes a point at which we can’t take any more.

We have almost reached that point.

DR CHARLES HANSON
Wetheral
Carlisle

• This year marks one of special significance for Trinity School in Carlisle.

In particular we will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the formation of Trinity from three former schools: Creighton School for Boys, Margaret Sewell School for Girls and Carlisle Grammar School, and also the 125th anniversary of Carlisle Grammar School’s moving to its landmark sandstone buildings in Strand Road.

We are planning two separate events. The first will take place on July 3, when former pupils and staff of Creighton and Margaret Sewell schools are invited to visit us.

Then, on the afternoon of September 24, which has been chosen to be closer to the original moving date, former pupils and staff of Carlisle Grammar and Trinity schools are invited to spend the afternoon with us.

Those wishing to attend on July 3 should come to the Chapman Library, in front of the Creighton building, from 2pm.

There will be a chance to see a collection of school memorabilia, tea will be served and some of our present students will be available as guides for anyone who would like a tour.

We hope that as many former pupils and staff as possible will join us in our celebrations. Contact us at tsa@trinity.cumbria.sch.uk.

Items for display on either date would be especially welcome.

As our plans develop further, we will publicise the events via the press and our website, www.trinity.cumbria.sch.uk.

ALAN MOTTERSHEAD
Headteacher
Trinity School
Carlisle

• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

John Warmingham sees Carlisle’s Civic Centre as iconic and worth listing for preservation (The Cumberland News, May 23), along with the city’s 1980s magistrates’ court. Others, like me, see these as ripe for demolition. The magistrates’ court is a tame, bland object in my opinion.

As to a new theatre, would people go to it sufficiently for it to be viable?

And with regard to Ian Ashbridge’s plan for Carlisle’s statues in the same edition; each of them needs a plaque at eye-level summarising that person’s life and dates.

JEREMY GODWIN
Drovers Lane
Penrith

First published at 05:35, Friday, 06 June 2008
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk