Windfarm firm accused of dividing community

8:45am Friday 11th July 2008

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A £20,000 grant to a village youth group by an energy company development has been denounced as a “sweetener”

by campaigners opposed to a proposed windfarm, reports Paul Duncan.

Renewable energy firm Banks Developments has given the money to the Helm Youth Group in Old Hutton, near Kendal, to pay for a major revamp of the community tennis court in the village.

The company has submitted a planning application to South Lakeland District Council for a six-turbine wind farm on the edge of the village which has prompted opposition from many local people and some of whom formed A Blot – a pressure group opposed to the plans due to its impact on the local landscape and wildlife.

The grant to the youth group came from the company’s community fund from, which provides grants to groups and organisations in the vicinity of proposed and actual developments.

Sue Evans, secretary of the Helm Youth Group, said: “The tennis court is an important local facility that has been well-used by the whole village for many years, and which is especially important to our group.

“It had reached a stage where a comprehensive upgrade was required, and there was a real danger that it would soon have become unusable if we hadn’t been able to get funding to carry this work out.”

However, A Blot spokesman Stephen Hinchcliffe said the donation was merely a “sweetener” for the village and such grants could result in the division of the community.

“That is why they do it. They are hoping to influence people’s opinions and whether they are effective in doing that, we just don’t know,” said Mr Hinchcliffe.

“What we do know is this kind of thing is causing huge rifts in rural communities across the country who are used to raising money for causes themselves and are suddenly handed huge sums of money. Raising money brings communities together.”

Banks environment and community director Mark Dowdall said: “Banks’s policy is to invest and support communities in the vicinity of all our planned and ongoing operations, to ensure that these areas benefit from our presence within them.

“Well-used facilities such as this play a central role in their communities, especially in areas where few alternatives are available, and we’re extremely pleased to be able to both support the excellent work of the Helm Youth Group and to help secure the long-term viability of the tennis court for the whole village.”

Projects, community groups, or organisations in the vicinity of a Banks Group development who are looking for funding from the community fund should contact Christina Rackley on 0191-383-0055.