WORK STARTS ON NEW EIGHT-TURBINE WINDFARM NEAR RSPB RESERVE

WORK is well underway on development of an eight-turbine windfarm a couple of fields away from the  RSPB's Tetney Marshes reserve near Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire.

The controversial project was opposed by both the RSPB and the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust - as well as hundreds of residents in nearby villages.

But neither organisation was willing to challenge the application when it went before a  planning inspector after Natural England signalled that it would not be objecting.

The reserve,predominantly consisting of saltmarsh, is adjacent to the Humber Estuary SSSI and hence important for migrating or wintering wildfowl and waders.

The pools at the Humberston end of the reserve are a winter habitat for a range of species including  wigeon, shoveler and little grebe   

 It also has an important breeding population of redshank and provides habitat for raptors such as short-eared owl and both hen and marsh harrier.

During part of November this year, it was also a regular haunt of a rare  pallid harrier.

The main concern of the RSPB has been that golden plover, lapwings and Brent geese face displacement as a result of  the project which is proceeding on land at Bishopthorpe Farm.

However, Natural England has taken the view that proposed  conversion of at least two arable fields to pasture - will be sufficient mitigation to provide a 'goose/plover refuge’.

Bishopthorpe Wind Farm Ltd hope the eight  turbines  will be operational and generating electricity by the early part of next year
   

The windfarm currently under construction at Bishopthorpe Farm