For several years, myself and Phantom Phil led a project by the name of Wings Over Northumberland. Whilst it was an overly-ambitious scheme, we came to the conclusion that something needed to be done to preserve one of the few wartime airfields in Northumberland. RAF Tranwell, Morpeth was our goal, and we conducted a very in-depth feasibility study on securing at least a portion of it for preservation. Sadly, the plans were killed off by lack of investment, but mainly by threats from the local community to fight it with multi-million pound law suits. We warned them that the land had been earmarked for industrial development and that a museum on the site would be the lesser of two evils. The land owners and the local council were receptive to the ideas and were helpful – the residents still objected. We capitulated and the company was wound up earlier this year.
I have just been advised of a story running in today’s Morpeth Herald:
http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/community/local-information/turbines_plan_for_tranwell_1_3842684
I’ve almost stopped laughing….. almost.
The good news is that at least the remaining airfield will be preserved, or rather left to deteriorate at its current rate. Perhaps Tony Robinson will dig it up in a few millennia… 😀
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th December 2013 at 10:35
Mistakes? The Ronny Gill*? Shurely shome mishtake…:D
Simon
*for those south of the Tees, the cry of the Chronicle seller that used to ply his trade near Grey’s Monument in Newcastle – ‘Ronny Gill’
By: wind ventures - 11th December 2013 at 08:48
http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/news/local-news/turbines-proposal-refused-by-council-1-6297995
Simon
Thanks for posting this Simon.
As the article states the application for the wind farm was refused. We have an option to appeal the decision which we shall consider and I’ll let you know in due course what we decide to do. If we do appeal the permissive paths and interpretation boards telling the story of the airfield would still remain part of the proposal.
Out of interest here’s a link to another newspaper article about the decision. I’d add that the wind farm picture is not one of ours and it’s not what we propose for the site! and there are numerous mistakes in the article such as height of the turbines being wrong and a suggestion that Newcastle airport object; they do not.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/morpeth-wind-turbine-proposals-thrown-6373011
Thanks for all the comments everyone has contributed (particularly the positive ones).
With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year
Adrian
By: Bob - 7th December 2013 at 12:27
Only winners with these industrial scale developments are the landowners and the green energy companies…
By: David Burke - 7th December 2013 at 11:29
Maybe the people that live there don’t want the landscape spoiling with them?? There doesn’t seem to be quite so much support for them now that people have realised that fuel prices have been put up to pay for environmental tax .
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th December 2013 at 10:13
How sad for everyone! It seems like the NIMBY menace has destroyed two good projects which would have made good use of the site, delivered benefits to the local and wider community, and preserved elements of its heritage. On what grounds did the whingers object?
They objected on the basis that they are exceedingly rich, and don’t want anything to devalue their expensive properties (call me cynical).
Simon
By: Arabella-Cox - 7th December 2013 at 10:11
Why is there a plan to build on it or something?
There was talk of plans for ‘affordable housing’ being built on it a few years back – bet the locals would prefer that…not.
Simon
By: JohnisJae - 6th December 2013 at 20:55
How sad for everyone! It seems like the NIMBY menace has destroyed two good projects which would have made good use of the site, delivered benefits to the local and wider community, and preserved elements of its heritage. On what grounds did the whingers object?
By: David Burke - 6th December 2013 at 19:02
Why is there a plan to build on it or something?
By: TonyT - 6th December 2013 at 18:54
Shame really it seemed to be the one chance the place had of retaining some of its heritage…..
By: RadarArchive - 6th December 2013 at 18:35
Give us a clue ! What does WWWMS mean!
I assume it means What Would Windy Miller Say.
By: Whitley_Project - 6th December 2013 at 18:30
I think the bigger question would be would wind ventures be prepared to support the formation of a museum on the site? I am sure this would get a massive amount of support from the forum…
By: David Burke - 6th December 2013 at 16:44
Give us a clue ! What does WWWMS mean!
By: Bob - 6th December 2013 at 12:47
WWWMS?
By: Arabella-Cox - 6th December 2013 at 12:00
http://www.morpethherald.co.uk/news/local-news/turbines-proposal-refused-by-council-1-6297995
Simon
By: No.2 A.A.C.U. - 17th October 2013 at 16:39
Adrian,
Regarding the community trail document, and not wanting to be pedantic, but on page 31 you have a Miles Master II purporting to be a Miles Martinet.
Kind regards,
Tim
By: Moggy C - 17th October 2013 at 15:28
And why not? There is nothing wrong with profit.
Again can I insist that this thread is related to RAF Tranwell. Axe grinding on renewables and global climate change will be deleted. Thanks.
Moggy
By: Bob - 17th October 2013 at 15:26
I expect there will be a tidy profit in it for “Wind Ventures” otherwise they wouldn’t be wanting to build them…
By: wind ventures - 17th October 2013 at 13:16
What does Wind Ventures make out of this wind factory?…
Hello Bob
We’re making nothing at the moment. No doubt our financial people have done their sums based on assumptions of build costs and how much the wind might blow. Even if I asked them what the answer is I’m sure you will understand that my employers would not be happy with me disclosing commercially sensitive information.
Regards
Adrian
By: Bob - 1st October 2013 at 12:33
What does Wind Ventures make out of this wind factory?…
By: wind ventures - 1st October 2013 at 11:36
Out of interest what price is being given per mw of power?
Hello David
We will give £5,000 per MW based on installed capacity.
Regards
Adrian (Wind Ventures)
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October 6, 2011 at 4:36 pm