Published: January 31, 2012
Burnham wind farm protest group challenges developer over photos

Campaigners fighting a proposed wind farm on the outskirts of Burnham-On-Sea have this week released a new photomontage showing how the controversial turbines will tower over the countryside - and they have challenged the developers to produce their own image.

The No Pilrow group released the photo on Monday (January 30th) to show how the four 130-metre tall turbines would look if they are built on land near Pilrow Farm at Rooksbridge, with Brent Knoll in the background.

The group's David Maund (pictured below with members of the group and Burnham's MP Tessa Munt) has questioned why Broadview Energy - the firm behind the project - has not issued any accurate photomontages of its own.

"We are questioning why Broadview Energy have at this late stage still failed to produce any accurate photomontages of the proposed wind farm since it is clear that they have the expertise and specialised software to allow them to create these," he told Burnham-On-Sea.com.

"Broadview claim to have finalised the wind farm layout, including the turbine heights and positions, so it is difficult to understand why they have not produced such photos."

"One of Broadview's major pronouncements is that they have tried their best to minimise the impact of the turbines on the local landscape and environment. Residents of this parish will of course be too aware that the full visual and environmental impact of this ill-conceived scheme will only become apparent if and when they are built - but by that time it will be far too late for us."

Mr Maund added: "In the meantime it would be of some help if suitable photo montages were now produced and published from as many locations as possible in order that we can judge for ourselves."

"Anyone travelling on the roads surrounding the Pilrow site will already be horrified by the height of the met mast structure now in place. Knowing that this mast is only just over half the height and a very small fraction of the width of the final turbines, it gives some idea of the enormity of these industrial units that will blight our levels."

"No Pilrow have received criticism in the past from Broadview about our own photo montages and we have for many months been asking them to produce their own. This they have singularly failed to do. We, the residents, need time to consider the accuracy or otherwise of any such photo montages produced particularly in the light of an Advertising Standards Authority ruling against Broadview Energy in 2009 with regard to a photo in connection with their Low Spinney wind farm site."

However, Tom Cosgrove, Broadview's project mananger, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "We are currently finalising the photomontages to show what the proposed Pilrow wind farm would look like. These will be made available shortly and will be on display at public exhibitions which we will be holding in the area in February."

"It is very important that the images that we produce are an accurate representation of how the wind farm will look and this process unfortunately takes time. We have published details of the location and size of the turbines in the meantime as part of our commitment to a continuous dialogue with the local community. We would also urge residents who wish to gain a sense for the scale of the proposed turbines to come on our wind farm trip this Saturday. Details of the trip can be found by calling Lisa Ross on 020 7268 9911."