NEW ROMNEY NEWS

English Nature has joined forces with the RSPB to advise the public inquiry into a proposed wind farm development at Romney Marsh, Kent, which gets underway on Tuesday (October 12).

Developers NPower Renewables want to build 26 wind turbines near to the Dungeness to Pett Level Special Protection Area (SPA) which is used by thousands of wild birds to breed and feed. According to the two conservation organisations, the birds could collide with these turbines if they are built on or near areas where the birds tend to feed.

Both English Nature and the RSPB believe the developers have failed to demonstrate that the development will not have a detrimental effect on internationally important wildlife sites if the wind farm goes ahead. Birds such as Bewick's swan, shoveler, bittern, golden plover, gadwall and hen harrier could be at risk as they are attracted to feed on arable fields and water bodies near to the wind turbines. Because of their size Bewick's swans find it difficult to swerve to avoid hitting overhead power lines and have even been known to collide with buildings in foggy conditions.

Both organisations support the generation of electricity from renewable sources and we are not anti-development. However it is vital that wind farms do not damage important wildlife sites either directly or indirectly and are sited appropriately, taking into account advice about impacts on international wildlife sites.

Teresa Bennett, English Nature's Kent team manager, said: "It is up to the developers to prove that there will be no risk to the thousands of birds that rely on Romney Marsh. We don't think they have been able to demonstrate this and want to make sure beautiful birds like the Bewick's swans are not put at risk."

Chris Corrigan, Regional Director for the RSPB added: "Conservation efforts in the last 11 years have created a very rich feeding and roosting area for more than 20,000 waterfowl and birds of prey. The windfarm could cancel out all the years of progress made by local landowners and threaten an internationally important population of birds."