Representation by Newton Resident's Association (Newton Resident's Association)
- Date submitted
- 8 July 2024
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
The Morecambe and Morgan Windfarm project proposal for two new offshore wind farms (Morgan & Morecambe) in the Irish Sea will have an irreparable impact on the Fylde which we believe is not fully appreciated. The installation of onshore underground power cables from landfall at Blackpool Airport to the National Grid connection point at Penwortham, plus the construction of two new and very large substations will affect all Fylde residents. This is before you even start to consider the fact that the substations are to be sited on greenbelt land between Kirkham, Freckleton and Newton with Scales together with the associated new access roads and service compounds. Impact on Newton with Scales. Cable trenches: The on-shore cables will be run and buried under ground. The cable trench will run from Blackpool Airport across the Fylde towards the new substations to the western side of Newton with Scales and then onward to existing large substation at Penwortham. The cable trench will be a maximum of 35Km in length and, during the construction phase, it will be 120m wide. The total construction phase is estimated to 5 to 8 years. In addition to the cable trench itself, there will be a number of new access roads and storage compounds required. Some of these will be retained permanently. The current proposal is for the cable trench run to leave the substations on the western side of Newton and head east, running just to the south of Newton Bluecoats School, before crossing the A583 just to the east of Clifton. Much of this detail has not yet been shared with the general public. Substations: Two new substations planned as part of this project. The first will be placed on land adjacent to Lower Lane close to its junction with Strike Lane. The second is planned for land adjacent to Lower Lane and adjacent to HM Prison Kirkham. Both are exceptionally large and intrusive industrial installations that will operate and be illuminated 24 hours per day, every day. Each substation will occupy approximately 34 acres of land (about 18 football pitches) plus associated access roads. The maximum height of each substation will be 25m. The operation of each substation will emit noise, light and electromagnetic pollution. The proposed sites are close to schools and residential properties which will all be adversely affected by these emissions. Loss of Greenbelt land and Best and Most Valuable agricultural land: The two substations are to be sited on Greenbelt land to the west and southwest of Newton with Scales. The cable trenches, access roads and storage compounds will also be on Greenbelt land. Greenbelt designation is important to the community as it prevents encroachment of urban sprawl and maintains the pleasant countryside of the Fylde and the distinct identities of each village. It is very difficult to see how these proposals align with the protection of Greenbelt. Furthermore, these proposals will effectively see the western boundary of Newton become an industrial zone, forever changing the character of the village. The highly valued amenity value of walking, riding or cycling along the area’s lanes, bridleways and footpaths will be gone forever. To make matters even worse the proposed substation sites are, in part, classified as Best and Most Valuable agricultural land which will be lost forever through compulsory purchase when the substations are constructed. This may well render some farms and small holdings and businesses unviable. Surely, food production is just as important as energy production, there must be a way to construct this important infrastructure on brown field or low-grade land. It is exceedingly difficult to believe that alternative solutions have been adequately investigated. Transport: The project team anticipates an increase of 600 to 700% in HGV movements in the area during the 5-to-8-year construction phase. Our local roads are in a poor state of repair now, what will be left when the construction ends? Consultation: To date there are no publicly available renderings of what the substations will look like as they will appear in the locations where they are to be constructed. This makes it very difficult for many people to visualise what is proposed. The public consultation has been flawed with only limited and targeted feedback since objections to the plans were submitted back in November 2023. Were any of the objections even considered? Have the plans been modified at all? There are alternative brown field sites available for the substations, but they seem to have been rejected out of hand in favour of the established preferred plan. The preference for the southerly siting of the Morecambe substation and the cable trench routing just to the south of Newton and Newton Bluecoats school have not been publicly consulted on at all. This is just another example of the inadequacies of the consultation process. Noise: Noise is a major concern for many residents with many stories in the press regarding excessive noise emissions from other similar substations. The project details state noise levels are not yet known. Much more clarity is required for residents to feel they have been properly informed in an effective consultation. To date, no clear statement of the upper limits for noise, light and electromagnetic emissions have been made public. Neither has any process for regular measurement of these emissions and by whom. Most importantly, what will the enforcement process be if any of these emissions are found to exceed authorised limits? Land Drainage: Water cannot presently escape quickly enough through our local dyke system and overloaded sewers. The substations and associated hard standings and access routes will worsen those problems for adjacent land. No drainage plans have been made public to date.