Roads between Blackpool and St Annes could be dug up to install Irish Sea windfarm cables sparking fears from residents

Residents living in the area say despite a lengthy public consultation they have failed to receive assurances about the potential impact on their neighbourhood.

Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms: Transmission Assets project will see two new windfarms built in the Irish Sea if it gets the go-ahead.

They are due to be operational by 2030, generating enough energy to power around two million homes.

As part of the scheme, cables need to be installed to connect the energy to the National Grid at the power station at Penwortham in Preston.

No firm details have been revealed as to where the cables would come ashore, but options include the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

Public consultation documents say one route being considered to link the cable with Penwortham would see trenches 122 metres wide being dug underneath Blackpool Road North, Leach Lane, Kilnhouse Lane, Queensway and behind Division Lane on the boundaries of Blackpool and St Annes.

Claire Whitehouse, who lives on Division Lane, said residents had a number of concerns including gardens being dug up to make way for cables, disruption of the local road network especially Queensway, and flooding risk.

The equestrian community has warned bridal paths could be affected and questions have also been asked about the potential impact on wildlife including birds in the Moss area.

Ms Whitehouse said: “I understand there are a number of different issues, but I think the consensus is as this is a statutory consultation they should have a more detailed plan.

“Therefore we as residents objected to the proposal on the basis that we do not have enough information to give our approval.

“We as residents have all been through enough disruption with the Enterprise Zone development, and this is only going to cause more issues for local residents in Blackpool and St Annes not to mention the knock-on effect to local businesses.”

A number of events to gain feedback have been held as part of a consultation process which ends on November 23.

A spokesperson for the Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms: Transmission Assets project said: “We are in the early stages of our onshore infrastructure planning for the Morecambe and Morgan offshore windfarms and expect to submit our application for a Development Consent Order in 2024.

“As determined by the National Grid-led Holistic Network Design, the project needs to connect to the existing National Grid substation at Penwortham and our consultation materials contain the latest information about the proposed onshore substation locations and cable routes to enable that connection.

“Over the past few weeks, the project team has been at consultation events in the local area, answering questions from members of the public about our proposals.

“Having an open dialogue with communities is critical as the project progresses to refine its proposals and we greatly value the feedback from local residents and stakeholders.”

Onshore infrastructure will also include two substations being built in the Fylde countryside, with fears previously raised these could impact on local farms.