Labour Councillors raise local concerns about plans to install huge windfarm on land between Formby, Ince Blundell and Lydiate

Formby and Ince Blundell Labour Councillors Catie Page and Peter Maguire have raised local residents' concerns about plans to build 24 St John's Beacon-size wind turbines on land between Formby, Ince Blundell and Lydiate.

Coriolis Energy is in the process of submitting plans to West Lancs Council to build the windfarm which consists of up to 24 turbines that tower 136.5m into the air.

The company held a series of public exhibitions in Sefton last week, including at Ince Blundell Village Hall and Leverhulme Hall on Great Altcar.

Formby and Ince Blundell Action Team members attended the events, including MP Bill Esterson and our local Labour Councillors.

Cllr Maguire said: "Since we found out about this windfarm, lots of people have raised concerns about these plans.

"The primary concern is the sheer size of the wind turbines that Coriolis Energy are planning to install. The public exhibition showed just how the turbines will dominate the skyline from Formby and Ince Blundell.

"People are telling me that they fear that these plans will destroy their communities.

"There are also obvious concerns about the the wind turbines affecting the radar system at RAF Woodvale. Elsewhere in the country where plans have been submitted for even smaller turbines than planned here, the Ministry of Defence has warned that their sensitive technical equipment is affected by the hug turbines.

"In that case, those turbines were 35m turbines. The ones planned for what is called the Lower Alt Windfarm are 136.5m.

"So obviously residents have concerns about these plans."

Cllr Page said the Formby and Ince Blundell Labour Action Teams were gathering objections to present to West Lancs, which is the planning authority responsible.

Cllr Page said: "This is a large scale application, and as you would expect, we have had a large number of concerns raised with us.

"People are concerned about the size, the visual impact of the windfarm, the potential noise and the loss of agricultural land.

"All concerns which we will ensure are considered by West Lancs before the decision is made.

"We would like to thank everyone who has contacted us so far."