__________________...................save our unspoilt landscape

TOURISM

The  beauty of the area around Barmoor (see above - enormous turbines would march right across this view from near Brackenside) prompted the Northumberland Tourist Authority themselves to object to this proposal.

The Guardian,  Simon Hoggart
Wind turbines - the menace grows. John Nott, who was defence minister at the time of the Falklands, wants to build two of the things, each 82 feet (25 metres) tall, on his estate at St Erith in Cornwall. They will be 30 feet higher than the local church. Not surprisingly, his neighbours are furious and are doing all they can to stop him. But the incredible thing about these monstrosities is that they will generate only 25 kilowatts, enough to meet just half the needs of his home, his farm and five holiday cottages. But what crazed person would want to holiday near these things?

Journal, Monday 23rd April


Height of Barmoor turbine shown to scale with Bamburgh Castle
While the image above is meant only to demonstrate the enormous height of the turbines, it serves as a fitting icon to remind us of the threat to tourism and therefore the economy of the area

Date:6 July, 2006

To whom it may concern,

I run a small bed and breakfast in Dover, South East Kent and have welcomed 1,000s of continental visitors over the years, many of whom have returned regularly on their way to and from our most scenic landscapes in Wales, the West Country and Scotland. I have noticed a marked down-turn from some of these regulars who tell me that their previously favoured destinations have been spoilt by wind-farms so they are now holidaying in Scandinavia or the Alps instead. It isn't just local tourism that is affected by the turbines, but the whole country which can suffer.
Yours sincerely
Mrs Stobie
Ilex Cottage
Kent

DID YOU KNOW

Northumberland attracts more than  10 million visitors per year injecting
£321 million into the local economy (NTP quote)

  • 36% of the Berwick Borough’s local economy is Tourism related,              7% - Agriculture
  • The Tourism Industry generally evolves without grant aid & subsidies

  • Tourists into Berwick Borough in the peak season - 75,000 a day

  • Statistics show that an average of £51 per person is spent during an
      overnight stay in the county

  •  Haggerston Castle Holiday Park & Berwick Holiday Centre
    cumulatively sold in 2005 – 728,000 Bednights!

  • The Borough has over 20 Static & Touring Caravan Parks providing
    more than 6000 pitches for the Tourism Industry

  • The 2005 Berwick Holiday Guide advertises 88 accommodation providers.
    There are many more Holiday Accommodations in the area advertised with National Brand Tour Operators/Cottage Agencies.

  • The Lowick Village Store takings increase by 50% , & The Lowick Gallery takings increase by 55% peak season, and sell the work of 35 local Artists.

  • In Lowick, Bowsden, Ford & Etal  - 54 “rooms” in B&B’s/Pubs :
    Min 16,200 overnight stays per year = visitor spend of £826,200 a year!
    A 25% loss in visitors would decrease the local economy by
    £206,500 alone from these local businesses

  • A National Tourist Board survey shows that 90% of British holidaymakers
    who go to the countryside, do so to enjoy it for its own sake and seek no further attractions like theme parks

    Research into Visitors’ reactions to Wind Farms

  • Independent surveys carried out in Scotland, Cumbria, & Wales indicated that an average 25% of visitors would not return to an area if there was wind farm development.                                                                                                                                                            
  • Local 5 Diamond B&B, High Steads, contacted 30 of their regular visitors and    72% stated that they would not return if the wind farm proposal went ahead.
                                                                    SAVE OUR UNSPOILT LANDSCAPE   PROTECT OUR LOCAL ECONOMY


Should we hamper the Borough’s Multi Million Pound Tourist Industry with Wind Turbines when there are alternative solutions to the renewable energy targets? 



TOURISM IN THE BOROUGH



THE PURPOSE:

  • To provide accommodation, visitor attractions and retain the beauty of the natural landscape to attract visitors and thus have a prosperous local economy.

Community Plan Target by 2015

  • During the summer period the number of visitors to the borough climbs to 75,000 a day.  Aim by 2015 increase to 100,000 a day. And extend the tourist season to cover the full year.



WIND TURBINES



THE PURPOSE:

  • To produce a contribution of electricity for use in the National Grid.


North East Regional Assembly Targets:

  • Additional 212MW of renewable energy by 2010 in Northumberland to meet UK targets.


THE PROCESS:

  • Preparation & maintenance of visitorAttractions, accommodation, landscape

                       = LOCAL JOBS

 

  • Annual Marketing & Sales

                        = LOCAL JOBS

 

  • Providing Customer Service

                       = LOCAL JOBS

 


THE PROCESS:

  • Design, Developers Consultation with Communities & Planning Authorities 

                      = NO LOCAL JOBS

 

  • Building turbines using European Technology

                      = NO LOCAL JOBS

 

  • Annual Two Months Maintenance

                      = NO LOCAL JOBS

 

 

THE PAYOFFS

  •  Provides Economic stability to an area and communities.


  • Careful management and preservation of the landscape and properties for appreciation now and the future.

  •  A vibrant tourist area has many differing sizes of business and sustains & develops local skills, and provides annual & seasonal employment.

  • Property values are sustained and often increase.

THE PAYOFFS



  • Only the Developers and landowners involved in the schemes benefit economically,

  • Natural unspoilt beauty of the landscape lost for 25 yrs!

  • The target production for each turbine is unlikely to be achieved and is unreliable due to intermittency

  • Two months maintenance work forTravelling Engineer

  • Properties near to Turbines devalue




Secret Kingdom?

or
Turbine Park?

 Read more about tourism effects here. NB (Large Adobe file)