Travel writer Bill Bryson pointed out that “Britain still has the most reliably beautiful countryside of anywhere in the world. I would hate to be part of the generation that allowed that to be lost."
That is why I speak out against thoughtless development in the British landscape, whether it be HS2, badly located power stations and pylons - or the relentless march of the utterly appalling wind turbines. At least I can say that I voiced my concerns and didn't quietly stand by and let it happen with my consent.... And those not-so-green developers are at it again.......'renewable' energy companies championing their schemes and missing the whole point of just why there is local opposition to their plans to desecrate the countryside... One example I came across will affect a beautiful and unspoilt part of the Border country, between Scotland and England. The area is being earmarked for a particularly intrusive new wind farm development at Cliffhope, near the small town of Hawick. But what is especially galling is that the developer is referring to this proposed farm as a 'community windfarm' even though the local community seems to be wholly against the project which involves plans to erect 46 turbines each up to 200m in height. All of this amid the most picturesque scenery and in a peaceful, quiet landscape that has probably remained unchanged for centuries. Local residents are outraged at the scheme which has been labelled as “horrendous” by their local council who also pointed out that it is “not remotely sympathetic to the local surroundings”. And yet the developer refers to it as a 'community windfarm' as if it had the interests of the local community at its very core. They maintain that the farm will bring benefits of around £2m for the area during the course of it's lifespan – but I think they are missing the point - they just don't seem to understand that for many of the locals this is not about money, this is about preserving a landscape that will be destroyed by such a scheme. No amount of money can compensate for that. And that's the trouble with these renewable energy companies and developers, they only see the picture in terms of money. They don't appear able to comprehend that there is more to life – a local, rural way of life – than financial gain. No amount of financial compensation can, or will, ever replace the untouched countryside that is obliterated by the determined onslaught of these wind companies both here in the UK and internationally. Until they realise that local people can not and will not be bought with financial incentives and until local councils and governments begin to act on behalf of, and in the best interests of, the communities they represent, then these companies will continue to bulldoze their way across our unspoilt countryside without remorse, relentlessly and callously wrecking the environment as they rake in large profits. So when Bill Bryson says that he would hate to be part of the generation that allowed the British countryside to be lost, I wholeheartedly agree, which is why I will continue to voice my opposition to the spread of industrialisation in our rural areas - including the expansion of wind farms, a destructive and anti-environmental source of energy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
If you appreciate what I write about, please consider showing your support by buying me a virtual coffee!
Click the button below! Thanks :) Archives
July 2023
|