Latest news with #Northumberland
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Anger as SNP backs biggest wind farm on the planet just days after Trump condemned turbines
The 'largest' offshore windfarm in the world could be built in Scotland after the SNP Government granted planning permission. Ministers confirmed that the giant Berwick Bank project off the south east coast of Scotland - which will contain up to 307 turbines - has been given the go-ahead. Developers SSE Renewables, claim that, if it is fully delivered, then it 'would become the world's largest offshore wind farm '. Conservation groups raised concerns about the danger that the development will kill tens of thousands of puffins, kittiewakes and gannets, including globally important colonies at Bass Rock. It comes just days after Donald Trump attacked the spread of 'windmills' during his visit to Scotland, saying they were 'ruining' countries in Europe. Berwick Bank - proposed to be built 23 miles off the coast of St Abbs - aims to deliver 4.1 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, which is believed to be enough to power every home in Scotland twice over and around 17 per cent of the homes in the UK. The development will feature up to 307 turbines and have two connection points to the grid - one in Dunbar, East Lothian, and another in Blyth, Northumberland. But the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and partner conservation groups condemned the decision to approve the development. Anne McCall, director of RSPB Scotland, said: 'This is a very dark day for seabirds. It is a terrible decision on a really bad development. 'Berwick Bank would be catastrophic for Scotland's globally important seabirds which are already facing alarming declines. In addition, its impacts are so damaging they will make the relative impacts of other windfarms significantly higher. 'This one wind farm is going to make it really challenging to accelerate renewable projects across Scottish seas. We are incredibly concerned that Scottish Government have granted consent for a project which could catapult some of Scotland's most-loved seabird species towards extinction.' The National Trust for Scotland said the news was 'deeply disappointing', fearing there will be 'significant harm' caused to seabird colonies at the nearby St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve. A spokesperson said: 'At the National Trust for Scotland we are supportive of the drive towards renewable energy, but not at the expense of the very nature and habitats this effort is supposed to help save in the face of climate change.' The Scottish Government highlighted that the consent is subject to SSE Renewables producing a detailed sea bird compensation plan outlining how adverse impacts on seabirds will be compensated for. Stephen Wheeler, the managing director of SSE Renewables, said news of the approval is 'hugely welcome'. He added: 'At over 4GW of potential capacity, Berwick Bank can play a pivotal role in meeting the mission of Clean Power 2030 for the UK and achieving Scotland's decarbonisation and climate action goals. 'Berwick Bank has the potential to rapidly scale up Scotland's operational renewable energy capacity and can accelerate the delivery of homegrown, affordable and secure clean energy to UK consumers from Scottish offshore wind, helping meet the UK's clean power ambition by 2030.' The approval comes after the SNP Government unveiled a new target of having up to 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040, which is a significant ramping up from the existing target of 8-11GW by 2030. Based on current average operating capacities it would mean an increase from around 1,000 turbines in five years' time to 5,000 within 15 years. Scottish Conservative net zero and energy spokesman Douglas Lumsden said: 'Wind power is an important part of our energy mix, but it is not on its own enough to provide affordable power and energy security. 'Scotland will only prosper with a realistic energy policy that draws on nuclear, oil and gas and renewables - and only the Scottish Conservatives are committed to that. 'The hostility of both the SNP and Labour governments to North Sea oil and gas is costing an estimated 400 jobs a fortnight and increasing our reliance on imported fossil fuels. 'If they care about Scotland's interests, these two left-wing parties should ditch their opposition to our existing energy sector, embrace a mix of solutions and heed Kemi Badenoch's call to ditch the energy price levy.' Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said: 'Ministers have given the Berwick Bank wind farm application extremely careful consideration. 'The decision to grant consent to Berwick Bank is a major step in Scotland's progress towards achieving net zero and tackling the climate crisis, as well as supporting national energy security and growing our green economy. 'It is also an important decision for Scotland's renewables sector, and this investment will be further built upon through the delivery of Scotland's significant future pipeline of offshore wind projects under the ScotWind and the Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) leasing rounds. 'We will continue to work closely with the developer and key stakeholders, including those working in fishing and conservation - to minimise the impact of the development on the marine environment and other marine users - and balance the needs of people and nature.' Asked yesterday if the Scottish Government waited until Mr Trump left the country before announcing consent for the scheme, First Minister John Swinney said: 'No. We had to wait for the various considerations to be given to the application at Berwick Bank.'
BBC News
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Send your pictures and stories of why you love Newcastle
On Monday, we asked you to tell us why you fell in love with Newcastle and some of your favourite moments supporting have already been getting in touch with your photos and stories and here is just a taste from Bob:"I was living in a small Northumberland village as an 11-year-old in 1955. Newcastle had got to their third FA Cup final in five years, but I hadn't taken much notice of the 1951 and 1952 wins."We had just bought our first television set; a small, 12-inch black-and-white thing, but it was the only one in the village. Come the day, Dad, who was in the village football team, had invited all his mates and anyone else from the village who wanted to come to our house to see the game. The sitting room was laid out full of chairs, in rows, one row behind the other. The room was full, with me on the floor in the front. "The game started and we were 1-0 up after only 45 seconds with a Jackie Milburn header, going on to beat Manchester City 3-1, and I was hooked."I have followed them ever since, through all the years, and to this day I still can't get enough of them: reading about them, watching them, listening to podcasts etc. I've watched the dross, and the best, ie Keegan, Robson and Howe. I felt sometimes as a Newcastle fan over the years I was a glutton for punishment but, once a fan, always a fan!"Join the conversation and send your best photos about why you love first visit to the stadium? A special kit? An amazing away trip?Send us your pictures and stories
Powys County Times
10 hours ago
- General
- Powys County Times
18th century shipwreck among ‘best preserved' of its time, experts say
Latest diving surveys have revealed a 'remarkable' completeness of the wreckage of an 18th century English warship preserved on the seabed. Twenty metres deep underwater and nine miles off the Kent coast, the Northumberland shipwreck is said to potentially be one of the 'best preserved' wooden ships. The latest survey, organised by Historic England with MSDS divers, found wooden decks, lengths of rope, copper cauldrons, and wooden chests with some preserved cannon balls inside had survived 'particularly well'. The 320-year-old protected wreck site is at high risk of deterioration as shifting sands expose it to processes which may erode the well preserved wreckage, Historic England said. Its licensee Dan Pascoe, who monitors the site, said: 'The Northumberland has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the UK. 'However, at 20 metres underwater and nine miles offshore, it is out of sight and mind to most people.' The Northumberland was a third rate 70-gun warship built in Bristol in 1679 as part of Samuel Pepys's regeneration of the English Navy. It sank during the 'Great Storm' on November 26, 1703 off Kent along with three other warships, including The Mary – the location of which is still unknown. They were all part of Queen Anne's fleet, the last Stuart monarch, reigning from 1702 to 1714. A film made by streaming service History Hit airs on Thursday detailing the new survey and the initial construction of the Northumberland. Creator Dan Snow said: 'Northumberland is the missing link. Built roughly halfway between the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, this wreck can fill in crucial details of shipbuilding and life at sea at that pivotal moment in our history. 'We have the Mary Rose, the 'Tudor time capsule' – well here's a Stuart time capsule to sit alongside it.' Future work on the site may include taking wood samples or dendrochronological sampling to find out more about the ship's construction and confirm its identity. Paul Jeffery, marine leader at Historic England, said: 'The completeness of the Northumberland wreck site is remarkable. 'It is a race against time as more of the Northumberland wreck becomes exposed.'
Glasgow Times
12 hours ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
18th century shipwreck among ‘best preserved' of its time, experts say
Twenty metres deep underwater and nine miles off the Kent coast, the Northumberland shipwreck is said to potentially be one of the 'best preserved' wooden ships. The latest survey, organised by Historic England with MSDS divers, found wooden decks, lengths of rope, copper cauldrons, and wooden chests with some preserved cannon balls inside had survived 'particularly well'. The 320-year-old protected wreck site is at high risk of deterioration as shifting sands expose it to processes which may erode the well preserved wreckage, Historic England said. Its licensee Dan Pascoe, who monitors the site, said: 'The Northumberland has the potential to be one of the best-preserved wooden warships in the UK. 'However, at 20 metres underwater and nine miles offshore, it is out of sight and mind to most people.' The muzzle end of a gun was found on the wreck (Michael Pitts/History Hit/PA) The Northumberland was a third rate 70-gun warship built in Bristol in 1679 as part of Samuel Pepys's regeneration of the English Navy. It sank during the 'Great Storm' on November 26, 1703 off Kent along with three other warships, including The Mary – the location of which is still unknown. They were all part of Queen Anne's fleet, the last Stuart monarch, reigning from 1702 to 1714. A film made by streaming service History Hit airs on Thursday detailing the new survey and the initial construction of the Northumberland. Creator Dan Snow said: 'Northumberland is the missing link. Built roughly halfway between the Mary Rose and HMS Victory, this wreck can fill in crucial details of shipbuilding and life at sea at that pivotal moment in our history. 'We have the Mary Rose, the 'Tudor time capsule' – well here's a Stuart time capsule to sit alongside it.' Future work on the site may include taking wood samples or dendrochronological sampling to find out more about the ship's construction and confirm its identity. Paul Jeffery, marine leader at Historic England, said: 'The completeness of the Northumberland wreck site is remarkable. 'It is a race against time as more of the Northumberland wreck becomes exposed.'
BBC News
12 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Stannington holiday lodges set for approval on green belt near A1
A major development to build 20 holiday lodges on green belt land off the A1 are set to be considered by a GH Group are proposing to build lodges, a café, farm shop, children's play area, and a service station on land at Station Road, in Stannington, Northumberland.A report says the plans fall within a new government exception to build on green belt but campaigners say the land should be Parish Council said it supported the "principle of development" but expressed concern over farm shop plans. A decision on the proposals will be made on Tuesday. The development, which has been recommended for approval by planning officers, sits on green belt land which fall within the new "limited infilling" exception set out in the revamped National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) introduced by the current government, a report said. The parish council accepted that the site had been "derelict for a number of years". The site was previously developed, which involved demolished a filling station and bungalow. 'Competition travesty' However, councillors stressed the need for a roundabout at the west and east end of Station Road, because the road had a large volume of traffic due to new developments in was no objection to the plans from the council's highways department or the objections were received from local residents, highlighting adverse impacts on the green belt and a lack of need for the service station or a farm shop. The council said the another proposed farm shop was a "concern" due to the nearby Moorhouse Farm Shop and cafe on Station Road. It said: "It would be a travesty if this level of competition was to adversely impact such a long-standing businesses."Locals also had concerns around safety because of the site's proximity to the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England and the Northumberland and Newcastle Society also said they could not support the application. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
