BLIMP LAUNCHED !!
The blimp is scheduled to fly in the Barmoor area this weekend, May 27th 2007, weather permitting. If winds are too strong or visibility too low, we will not be able to launch the balloon until conditions improve.
See The Journal report on our news page
New Blimp
On Saturday, 26th of August 2006, we re-launched the brand new blimp from the field next to Dunsall farmhouse. A caravan was in situ for our supporters, who mounted a 24 hour vigil to protect the balloon from further sabotage. Press and TV were there for the occasion, and a crowd of people came to see the lift-off. There has been a lot of interest from people who have seen the blimp from far afield - it could even be seen from the Melrose area, apparently, despite the fact that the balloon was being pulled much lower than its full height because of the wind. The string mostly seemed to be at around 45 degrees to the perpendicular .
Some of the spectators at the launch
(Older News follows)
SABOTAGE ! SOUL's BLIMP FLYING NO MORE!
From Sunday July 30th to Saturday 6th at noon you would have been able to see our blimp flying from a position next to Dunsall Farmhouse, just off the B6353 Lowick-Ford road quite close to site of the proposed wind power station. However after just 10 hours of flying, the blimp was cut from its moorings from inside a high trailer under cover of darkness. This was an extremely irresponsible act of vandalism as a loose-flying blimp could be involved in a collision with an aircraft. Members of SOUL have informed the Scottish Air Traffic Control Centre and the local police are investigating the matter.
The blimp is 6 metres long, though appeared to be quite small as it was so high in the sky. However it was still not as high as the 110 metres (360ft) the turbines would be, as the wind pulled the cable sideways. Nevertheless it could be seen for miles around and from all sorts of viewpoints, once you knew whereabouts to look.
The object of this exercise was to try and show people just how high these turbines would be. It was also be possible to get an idea of the distance over which these turbines will be visible.
If you would like to make a donation towards a new balloon click here
4th August The Journal (Front page) "24 hour guard for blimp"
Protestors order replacement for missing blimp
ANTI-windfarm campaigners who suspect vandals are responsible for their protest blimp going missing have ordered a replacement.
They
believe the helium filled balloon was cut loose from its trailer at
Dunsall Farm on the B6353 WoolerFord-Barmoor road in Northumberland.
And the group also plan to mount a 24-hour guard to protect the new blimp, to prevent any further possible foul-play.
The
balloon was being used to illustrate the 110m height of nine turbines
planned for Barmoor, near Lowick, and had been winched down and
anchored overnight at about 20m.
But airports and flying clubs across the North-East and Scotland were put on alert over the weekend after it disappeared.
Supporters
of Lowick based campaign group SOUL (Save Our Unspoilt Landscape) now
plan to order a new £1,200 dirigible, complete with anti-windfarm logo,
from the specialist manufacturers.
SOUL committee member Anne Daniels, of Lowick, said: “We are not going to be thwarted, so we’re ordering a second blimp.
“It’s
a shame that some people won’t allow us to express our opinions
lawfully in what is a free country, but they are not going to stop us.
“Those
people who did manage to see the original balloon flying on Saturday
were staggered by the height it was at – the same as the proposed
Barmoor development.
“The blimp really brings home just how massive these turbines are, and just how visible they will be from far and wide.”
SOUL is also planning to use the blimp at other proposed windfarm locations in the area.
1st August The Journal (Front page) "Trouble in the air"
By Tony Henderson Environment Editor, The Journal
An
alert went out to airports and flying clubs yesterday after a 20ft long
helium-filled air balloon went missing from a Northumberland field.
The orange blimp had been custom-built at a cost of £1,200 for the anti-windfarm group SOUL (Save Our Unspoilt Landscape).
The group is fighting plans to erect nine turbines at Barmoor, near the villages of Lowick and Ford in North Northumberland.
Overnight the blimp was winched down and anchored about 20 metres above the trailer at Dunsall Farm by the side of the B6353 Wooler-Ford-Barmoor road, with plans to fly it at 110 metres for the next six days.
But yesterday morning the blimp, featuring an anti-windfarm logo, was found to have vanished.
The group believe that sabotage is to blame in what they describe "an extremely irresponsible act of vandalism."SOUL committee member Amanda Worlock said: "The cord had been cut. Being full of helium it would have gone up like a rocket, and trailing 50 metres of cord."The blimp cost us a lot of money and we planned to use it in different parts of Northumberland on a number of occasions to show the height of proposed turbines. Otherwise it is difficult for people to visualise the impact the turbines would have on the landscape. "We have no idea where the blimp is but it is potentially dangerous if it collided with an aircraft.
"We
are frustrated because we live in a democracy and people should be
allowed their views and what we were doing was taking part in the
debate in a rational and reasonable way.
"The police were called and they suspected it was sabotage."
The missing blimp was reported to the Scottish Air Traffic Control centre.A
spokeswoman for the air traffic services company Nats said: "We have
issued an notice that a balloon has been released to all those who may
be affected such as airports and flying clubs."
"The Civil Aviation Authority was informed due to the potential danger to aircraft."
Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact (01661) 872555 ext 61256.
The Barmoor turbine bid has been lodged with Berwick Council by a company called Catamount and the wind developers Force 9.
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Sited near proposed power station of of 9 turbines, which would be at a height even higher than the blimp was flying the day these pictures were taken
Towards Cheviot
From Berwick road near Berrington
The blimp has sometimes been slightly enhanced so it is more easy for you to spot on the small photograph. When looking with the naked eye it may be easier to see when wearing sunglasses.
From Oxford
From Berrington Lough
Towards Ancroft South Moor
Preparing for take-off :
Sabotaged !
All we wanted to do was to let people see just how high these turbines would be . . .!
But we will not be silenced. We are even more determined now ! !
Blimp2 :
Laverock
From Roughtin lynn road
A Typical comment from a supporter :
Thanks for the regular news. The blimp was a real revelation! I was away
when the first one was launched but was convinced that we would not see it
in Donaldsons Lodge. What a shock I got when It was relaunched and was
visible to the naked eye from my window. With our relatively flat landscape,
all the proposed windfarms will be seen from every corner of Berwick Borough
and over the Tweed.
I attach a photo to illustrate the point (Below)
Watch out for the next flight of the blimp very soon !!
Valentines party
An
extremely successful Valentine's party was held Saturday 11th February
at Lowick Village Hall. The hall was packed and had been completely
transformed for the occasion with heart balloons, yards of pink tulle
and white linen tablecloths strewn with heart confetti and love heart
sweets.... 
On arrival, everyone was given a glass of pink bubbly, courtesy of Mr & Mrs Ian Jackson, which got the party off to a great start !
Music was provided by the very popular MICK HOPE Disco 
Our aim was to get together, have fun and to raise funds, which we certainly did ... !
We have increased the funds by over £6000!!
More news
Auction
Many, many thanks to all who came to support us at the auction. We managed to raise the fantastic figure of over £6,000 towards funds. Thanks also to the generous people who donated lots and to the auction committee for all their efforts and hard work. This money will be going towards our fighting fund, which will be used to employ experts, such as Geoffrey Sinclair, who fought and won the Whinash enquiry, and whose services we secured several months ago to help present the initial rebuttal of the planning application. We are a voluntary organisation entirely reliant upon the generosity of the community threatened by this development, so every penny raised is extremely valuable to help us in our campaign.
It is not too late to object to the proposals if you have not yet done so ! Berwick have agreed to take objections right up until the planning committee meeting, which may be many months hence.
SAVE OUR UNSPOILT LANDSCAPE !