Stable boss voices fears about energy centre plans

Chris Pollitt runs the Wrea Green Equitation Centre in Lancashire

The construction of a new electricity cable network centre in Lancashire would likely lead to the closure of a long-established stables, its owner has claimed.

Morgan and Morecambe, a partnership between energy firms EnBW and BP, wants to build a hub which would see cables running from two offshore wind farms in the Irish Sea and then through Blackpool, Wrea Green and Newton with Scales to an existing substation in Penwortham.

While the proposed development was approved by the Planning Inspectorate last year, the final decision will be made by Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband.

Nearby Wrea Green Equitation Centre, which has been operating for 44 years, offers riding lessons and courses to disadvantaged children and young people with disabilities.

'Important contribution'

Owner Chris Pollitt said she feared the development would "bankrupt us - it's as simple as that.

"Would you have your child going to somewhere on a pony where sudden loud noises and vibration can happen?"

Morgan and Morecambe said the offshore wind farms "could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of around two million UK homes every year and make an important contribution to the UK's renewable energy targets.

"The transmission assets are needed to deliver the electricity generated by the offshore wind farms to the National Grid for onward distribution to UK homes and businesses.

"Projects of this scale and importance can't be delivered without potential impacts but we have sought to minimise these, including undergrounding our cables, and believe our application provides for the safe, effective delivery of this project."

The partnership said it "recognised there are ongoing concerns about our plans, and we welcome the forthcoming examination of our application".

It added: "This will provide another opportunity for people to have their say as our proposals are considered thoroughly and independently."

Local resident Jonny Wilde is worried about the planned development's environmental impact

New substations built in Newton With Scales would be visible from local resident Jonny Wilde's back garden.

"The destruction that this will cause far outweighs the advantage that the energy brings," he said.

"We're absolutely for the wind farm, but there is a much quicker, cheaper, shorter, less destructive route that would use brownfield land."

Campaigners have suggested an alternative route via Rossall.

Cables would also run underground for about 1.5 miles (2km) to the Hill House technology enterprise zone.

'Clean power'

A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson said: "Securing Britain's clean energy future will require improving infrastructure in a cost-effective way to get renewable electricity on the grid.

"We need this to deliver homegrown, clean power by 2030 and protect billpayers from unstable fossil fuel markets.

"Communities have always had a say in the planning process, and they will continue to have a voice on developments in their area.

"It is important we take people with us and are also considering ways to ensure communities who live near new clean energy infrastructure can see the benefits of this."

It is thought a final decision about the proposed development will be made next year.