'Fylde says NO!' - D-Day for Morecambe windfarm cable plan in Fylde coast as Ed Milliband to announce decision

Residents opposing the prospect of a major windfarm development running gigantic cables through the Fylde coast will today learn if their concerns have been heard.

It’s D-Day for the Fylde Says No! group who about to discover if Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, will allow an 11 year infrastructure project plan to run gigantic cables from Morecambe Bay offshore windfarm, through Blackpool and Fylde to the National grid at Penwortham.

The plans have proved highly controversial because of an associated 15.5 mile underground cable route which would come ashore near Starr Gate beach, close to Blackpool Airport, before running through the Fylde countryside and into a battery storage facility in Penwortham.

Local politicians and residents fear it would devastate the Fylde countryside, while Britain’s Ministry of Defence also opposed the plans on the grounds that the proposed turbine array would interfere with aviation radar systems at BAE’s Warton base.

The Fylde Says No! group has claimed the plans will mean “11 years of living on a building site”.

In January, Morgan Offshore Wind Limited pulled out of what was originally the Morgan and Morecambe windfarm project because “the project is no longer economically viable”, but the Morecambe section is still proceeding.

Windfarm developers say the project will produce 1500MW - enough electricity to power nearly two million homes every year.

While the turbines themselves have been granted planning permission, the verdict over the cable corridor project is in the hands of Environment Secretary Ed Miliband and he will publicly anounce his decision today.

Campaigners say the trenches the underground cables will sit in will be the equivalent width of “three motorways”.

A spokesman of Fylde Says No! said: “Fylde Says No! remain seriously concerned that BAE Warton seem to be continuing to state that it is impossible for them to accurately risk assess or mitigate the increased risk of birdstrikes, resulting from this proposed plan, on the high velocity aircraft using the Aerodrome.

“We don’t need to be aviation experts to know that a bird strike on a high velocity jet would cause a very serious, major incident, involving widespread destruction and loss of life.

“We do not see how this application can morally, ethically or legally be given approval whilst this stalemate exists.

“We remain hopeful that our D-Day gathering today will be a celebration of the decision to pursue the alternative cable route option, as proposed and researched by Lancashire County Council, Fylde Borough Council and Wyre Council.”

The Fylde Says No! group says members plan to be outside the town hall at St Annes today “regardless of which way it goes” sharing their response and meeting with the public.

At previous protests, held in St Annes, Warton and other parts of Fylde, the residents cited risks including wildlife disruption, destruction of green belt land and dunes, long noisy construction, road closures and negative effects on tourism, recreation, and local businesses.

There has also been concern that the plans will displace birds and risk bird strikes in the airspace of BAE Systems.

One group member said: “In a nutshell, it’s going to ruin your community for generations to come.”