St Paul's blocks coastal wind farm plans

[Mr T.]

St Paul's blocks coastal wind farm plans
By David Sapsted
(Filed: 04/04/2005)

St Paul's Cathedral has pulled the plug on plans to build England's largest onshore wind farm on a remote stretch of coastal marshland.

The decision by the dean and chapter at the cathedral represents a remarkable change of heart by the church authorities, who, until recently, were urging villagers to go along with the scheme.

The role of St Paul's was crucial to the viability of Npower Renewables' plan to build 26 wind turbines 400ft tall because, since being gifted the land in AD 604 by the King of Kent, the cathedral owns 1,000 acres around the Essex villages of Bradwell-on-Sea and Tillingham.

People living in about 850 village homes and scattered farms were appalled by the plans, which they said would destroy the unspoiled coastal marshes, threaten the thousands of migrating wildfowl and waders and cause intolerable noise pollution of "blade thump" from the turbines.

Christian groups were also worried that the constant noise could destroy forever the tranquillity of St Peter-on-the-Wall, a church built by St Cedd of Lindisfarne in AD 654 and the oldest complete Saxon church in the world.

Now, the cathedral authorities have pulled out of the scheme because of the strength of local opposition.

The Rev Lorna Smith, priest in charge of St Nicholas Church, Tillingham, broke the news to parishioners at yesterday's morning service.