We're protesting because this windfarm would ruin our community for generations to come

Residents opposing the prospect of a major windfarm development in Fylde plan to make their feelings known in public on the expected decision day next month.

The Fylde Says No! group has already mounted protests at various local sites against the plans for offshore wind farm cabling corridors, fearing serious impacts on the countryside.

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 is due to be announced on May 14.

The Fylde Says No! group says members plan to be outside the town hall at St Annes on that day “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.”