These are some possible reasons for you to object -

·         I strongly object to a windfarm at Kelmarsh Hall, this is a Grade 1 listed heritage building, in an amazing area of natural beauty.  If the planning for 7 turbines goes ahead the area’s character and heritage will be destroyed.

·         I strongly object as English Heritage have listed the gardens, parklands and estate as Grade 2* this is very rare and a wonderful honour.  This identifies Kelmarsh as significant to local history and must not be destroyed by the scare of a windfarm.

·         I object as I feel this is a road safety issue with the 7 turbines so close to a major road and junction.  I am very concerned with turbine blades rotating and causing dazzle, ice throw, flicker and accidents on the A14.

·         I object to planning as the wildlife on the Kelmarsh Estate is magnificent and extensive, from buzzards to field mice; EON plan to either kill or relocate the ornithology is dreadful and must be stopped to protect the countryside

·         I object to the windfarm development at Kelmarsh Hall which will have a negative environmental impact on a magnificent area of countryside with no benefit, the electricity produced needs to be heavily supported by conventional sources.

·         I strongly object to the negative impact the turbines will have on the Buddhist Retreat that is a pleasure and honour to have in this area of the country. They will dominate the retreat and have massive road safety issues in the development stage.

·         I strongly object to EON’s plans for 7 turbines, less than 350m from homes.  These are the highest turbines inland and the nearest to homes in the UK which is reprehensible. I am most concerned with the negative impact on families and communities. 

·         I am most concerned and object to the plans for a windfarm at Kelmarsh Hall, if the plans are accepted this will re-zone the land to light industrial which would sent a precedent for continued developed, totally unacceptable. 

·         I strongly object to the windfarm at Kelmarsh and believe the whole nature of the Northampton countryside is under threat. Northampton has already achieved its renewable government target but continues to be targeted for windfarm development. 

·         I object - EON may quote the A14 as a major development in comparison to windfarms, however due to landscape sensitivity this was recessed with hedgerow & tree fences to hide visual scare.  You can not recess a windfarm; it will stick out like a sore thumb

Kelmarsh Hall is a Grade 1 listed building in northern Northamptonshire owned by a private charitable Trust. The gardens are also listed, and it has an estate of over three thousand acres which is farmed by tenant farmers.

Kelmarsh Hall derives its income from events such as the annual English Heritage Festival of History, Game Fair and Christmas Fair, and from weddings.

The Trustees of the Kelmarsh Hall Trust are proposing to have seven wind turbines erected on estate grounds south of the A14 and next to the Civil War battlefield of Naseby which borders the Kelmarsh Hall estate to the West. The primary object of the Kelmarsh Hall Trust is to “preserve for the benefit of the nation monuments, buildings of national historic or architectural or artistic interest and importance and to protect and improve the amenities of such buildings and their surroundings”. The height of the proposed turbines is 120m each, and they will therefore be visible from Kelmarsh Hall and for 15-25 miles around it, including from the Naseby battlefield.

The last private owner of Kelmarsh Hall, Miss Valencia Lancaster, set up the Kelmarsh Hall Trust in order to put into action her brother’s deep wish to preserve the estate in perpetuity as a traditional working English estate. The Stop Kelmarsh Hall Windfarm Campaign does not consider that Colonel or Miss Lancaster’s wishes would have included the erection of a windfarm, or the risk that such a development would bring of having the entire area re-classified and open to further industrial development.

The Stop Kelmarsh Hall Windfarm Campaign believe that moving to renewable energy is important for the future of the planet, but that facilities such as windfarms should be in the right place. On an estate listed in the Domesday Book and overlooking – indeed, overpowering – the site of the most important battle of the English Civil War is not the right place. In addition, the area is known for its wildlife populations (including protected species such as bats) which would be affected by the turbines, and the site is metres from the A14, and the most dangerous stretch of that road in Northamptonshire. Turbines blades of 90m catching the sunlight will do nothing to improve the accident statistics.

Click here to see if your village or town will be blighted by the proposed Kelmarsh Wind Farm

Please help us to stop the Kelmarsh Hall Windfarm.

Contact us

By email - info@stopkelmarshwindfarm.com 

Write to –  Stop Kelmarsh Wind Farm, PO Box 786, Northampton, NN6 9YT

The local Harborough Mail has published an article detailing the proliferation of proposed wind farms in the North Northamptonshire and South Leicestershire, which it should be remembered is one of the least windy places in the UK!

In this article Laura Carse, the development manager of Wind Direct, a company who have previously looked at building a wind farm close to Naseby Battlefield site said:

“We originally considered a site close to the Naseby battlefield but decided that the cultural heritage of the site could be compromised. We have to consider a whole range of aspects before one is chosen, such as the environmental impact and the historical culture of sites.”

Click here to read the whole article

The sweep of the enormous 90 metre blades would be big enough to fly a 747 jumbo jet through!

As the A14 passes within metres of the proposed Kelmarsh windfarm site, they will be a highly visible distraction for drivers, creating a potential accident hazard as the sun glints off those massive 90 metre blades.

Be in no doubt, they will be visible for miles around.

Click the link below to see how the turbines compare to some local landmarks

Wind turbine height comparison

Contact us - info@stopkelmarshwindfarm.com

In addition to looking for alternative sources, we should all look to save the energy we currently produce from existing sources. The UK tops the league of European energy wasters.

There are many simple things that we can all do, and we have listed some of them here. Every little thing that we can all do will have a massive cumulative effect.

1. DON’T LEAVE APPLIANCES ON STANDBY

Leaving unnecessary items on standby is estimated to cost each household an average of £37 a year.

2. UNPLUG CHARGERS WHEN NOT IN USE

In the UK alone chargers left plugged in waste over £60m and 250,000 tonnes of CO2.

3. TURN OFF LIGHTS WHEN LEAVING ROOMS AND USE ENERGY EFFICIENT BULBS

If all UK households replaced one light bulb with an energy efficient one, the money saved could pay about 75,000 family’s fuel bills a year and save a million of tons of CO2. If every household in the UK changed just one bulb, it would save the CO2 equivalent of taking ONE MILLION cars off the road.

4. WASH CLOTHES AT LOWER TEMPERATURES AND USE THE TUMBLE DRYER LESS

5. TURN THE THERMOSTAT DOWN

6. STOP USING PLASTIC CARRIER BAGS

7. RECYCLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Just one recycled aluminium can saves enough energy to run a television set for three hours!

Recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a 60W light bulb for six hours!

The energy saving from recycling one glass bottle will power a 100 watt light bulb for almost an hour; or a computer for 20 minutes; or a colour TV for 15 minutes; or a washing machine for 10 minutes!

BY EACH DOING LOTS OF LITTLE THINGS, WE CAN ALL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE

For more information on energy saving and practical tips, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

Contact us - info@stopkelmarshwindfarm.com

This means there will be implications for the local wildlife populations, both from the massive turbines themselves and the large amount of construction work and traffic that will be required to build them.

One of the most sensitive of all creatures is the bat and as such they are protected by law.

“Erecting turbines in the unspoilt countryside of this area seems to be madness and could seriously affect our native bats.” not our words, but those of Phil Richardson from the Northants Bat Group.

In fact the Kelmarsh Estate are so proud of the bats on their land, that they have held annual bat walks for the last five years, yet they seem prepared to put those bats at high risk with this proposal.

Click here to read the full views of The Northants Bat Group

One of the stated aims of the trust is - “Conserving all features of the built environment, designed, historic and natural landscape, and all wildlife which are of national, regional or local significance and managing them according to best practice.”

The proposed wind farm would appear to be in direct contradiction of the wishes of the Lancaster family.

The Trust is established as a registered charity, and the charitable aims of the Trust are set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of The Kelmarsh Trust (25th August 1982);

One of those stated aims is - “To maintain the character and scenic beauty of the landscape.”

We fail to see how seven 400 foot turbines, each taller than a 30 storey block of flats, fits in with the wishes of the Lancaster family. It would appear that the current trustees have decided to go against the terms of the trust, established by the last owners of the Kelmarsh estate and pursue a policy of greed over green.

Click here to read more details about the Kelmarsh Trust.

Contact us by email - info@stopkelmarshwindfarm.com

Please click here for more information on the impact to wildlife, the environment and community

There is also concern about the proximity of the proposed wind farm to Tally Ho Lane; an ancient byway which runs through the site and is greatly enjoyed by walkers and horse riders.

Please click here to read more about the threat to Tally Ho Lane

Recently a similar proposal also in Northamptonshire was turned down at appeal, primarily on the grounds of the detrimental effect to the rural environment and nearby ancient monuments and public rights of way.

Not only is The Kelmarsh Wind Farm bordered by the historic Naseby battlefield site, it has a byway running through it which is very popular with walkers and riders, and there is an ancient monument just a few hundred metres away in the village of Haselbech.

The appeal also found that Northamptonshire has easily achieved its 2010 wind energy target, three years early.

To read the full appeal decision click here http://www.newt.me.uk/decision%20letter.pdf

Of course the efforts of the local residents played a massive part in getting the plan overturned; visit http://www.newt.me.uk to find out more.

It goes to show what can be done - these monstrous turbines are never a foregone conclusion, many many proposed sites are refused.

Does that look like minimal impact? This is the foundation for just one turbine and it is a mere 3/4 of the height of those at the proposed Kelmarsh Wind Farm