Wind Farm disruption

[charlie94]

So
Living/farming on the fylde coast, there is potentially a wind farm called Morgan and Morecambe off the coast at Morecambe. The issue for the Fylde is that the cable run going to cut our area up with 120m run for digging cables in. It's 25km long and that equates to approx 750 acres lost in area for 10 years whilst the project may take places. Plus bird mitigation sites which will add a few more 100 hundred acres. The company acting on the wind farms behalf is Dalcour Mclaren who are effectivly trying to bully locals saying they've compulsory powers to do as they wish. No mentary value has been spoken about for loss of crops etc. We will lose to the cable run and mitigation sites we lose towards 80 acres which leaves us in a poor position for grazing beefers, going crops etc. Make life different and not what we are planning as a family and business

What can we do? It feels like we are being rail roaded like HS2 has been. The land won't be the same again if it's dug up and has compounds etc on it and 18 huge electric cables approx 1.2/1.5m down. Cutting through drains

Will the ground recover?
We are in a real pickle as it's grade 1 ground and the heart of the farm. As you can tell it sounds a mess and the powers above say we can't fight it

Is there actually anything we can do?
MP has been to Parliament but most likely fall on deaf ears

If anyone has any experience or thoughts be most welcome

 

[curlietailz]

Get a really good land agent

 

[charlie94]

Get a really good land agent

Got one
But they'll only pay so much an hour for him and he's more than what he is an hour

 

[YELROM]

Got one
But they'll only pay so much an hour for him and he's more than what he is an hour

Refuse to speak to them, unless they pay his fees in full

 

[hoff135]

Dalcour mclaren were pretty cheeky to a couple of my neighbours, they know the govt want all this crap so it's gone to their head, these companies think they are the second coming of Jesus, to save us from the so called devil of "global boiling".

Unfortunately the countryside is to be ripped up to provide power for the masses, it won't make their bills cheaper, even though they've been told it will. If it did they will blow that extra money on a trip to majorca so saving to the planet will be nil. We are currently on the sh1tty end of the biggest scam ever perpetrated against the people of this country- net zero

 

[teslacoils]

Surely the cable run is only "lost" while they cut the trench and install? Thats not going to be ten years.

In any case, you can look through all the documents on the NSIP website:

Documents | Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets

national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk

This will show land plans, or at least the boundary for areas considered for the cable route. The likely need would be for a lease of the subsoil for the cable, and compensation would be payable. As an affected landowner, you would be invited to any discussions as an Interested Party, however the early consultation for this project has begun back in October.

Just get an agent. You can make representations, however for a national infrastructure project if it turns out yours is the only land that can be used then it will be used! However, in all cases the preference is to do it by agreement / option with decent money paid.

Chances are for mitigation, you may find they will want to lease land, and pay you far in excess of what can be made from farming, and you may even still be able to graze it.

 

[charlie94]

Dalcour mclaren were pretty cheeky to a couple of my neighbours, they know the govt want all this crap so it's gone to their head, these companies think they are the second coming of Jesus, to save us from the so called devil of "global boiling".

Unfortunately the countryside is to be ripped up to provide power for the masses, it won't make their bills cheaper, even though they've been told it will. If it did they will blow that extra money on a trip to majorca so saving to the planet will be nil. We are currently on the sh1tty end of the biggest scam ever perpetrated against the people of this country- net zero

I've heard Dalcour are bad to deal with

 

[charlie94]

Surely the cable run is only "lost" while they cut the trench and install? Thats not going to be ten years.

In any case, you can look through all the documents on the NSIP website:

Documents | Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets

national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk

This will show land plans, or at least the boundary for areas considered for the cable route. The likely need would be for a lease of the subsoil for the cable, and compensation would be payable. As an affected landowner, you would be invited to any discussions as an Interested Party, however the early consultation for this project has begun back in October.

Just get an agent. You can make representations, however for a national infrastructure project if it turns out yours is the only land that can be used then it will be used! However, in all cases the preference is to do it by agreement / option with decent money paid.

Chances are for mitigation, you may find they will want to lease land, and pay you far in excess of what can be made from farming, and you may even still be able to graze it.

We've told them our thoughts like everyone in the area.

The problem is the land may not recover are there will be hardcore/stone compounds on the land. Can't remember if there are 2 or 4 roadways for work way to operate year round. So that will be stoned up. Displacement of water to.
As for other land options, the end line is the other side of the river. So really it could go down the river as the substation is on the river side, but it's protected by Ramsa and Sssi which is a load of rubbish as really it as the intended cable run will come through a Sssi on the coast. Most cost effective way surely is to bury in the river as they are already in the sea. Also apparently the national grid connections at Heyshem nuclear is coming to an end which would make more sense to use existing infrastructure
All stinks and sees a load shite

 

[hoff135]

We've told them our thoughts like everyone in the area.

The problem is the land may not recover are there will be hardcore/stone compounds on the land. Can't remember if there are 2 or 4 roadways for work way to operate year round. So that will be stoned up. Displacement of water to.
As for other land options, the end line is the other side of the river. So really it could go down the river as the substation is on the river side, but it's protected by Ramsa and Sssi which is a load of rubbish as really it as the intended cable run will come through a Sssi on the coast. Most cost effective way surely is to bury in the river as they are already in the sea. Also apparently the national grid connections at Heyshem nuclear is coming to an end which would make more sense to use existing infrastructure
All stinks and sees a load shite

Will you be allowed to plough over the cable? I'm told the 400kv planned here is pit underground you can't plough over it? Maybe direct drill?

 

[charlie94]

Will you be allowed to plough over the cable? I'm told the 400kv planned here is pit underground you can't plough over it? Maybe direct drill?

Yeah not that out yet

 

[steveR]

Dalcour mclaren were pretty cheeky to a couple of my neighbours, they know the govt want all this crap so it's gone to their head, these companies think they are the second coming of Jesus, to save us from the so called devil of "global boiling".

Unfortunately the countryside is to be ripped up to provide power for the masses, it won't make their bills cheaper, even though they've been told it will. If it did they will blow that extra money on a trip to majorca so saving to the planet will be nil. We are currently on the sh1tty end of the biggest scam ever perpetrated against the people of this country- net zero

DM are scum bags not the sort of people I want to deal with.... IMO only, of course.

 

[steveR]

Got one
But they'll only pay so much an hour for him and he's more than what he is an hour

Had something similiar with DM, who refused to deal directly with me and meet my expenses so as to avoid my using an Agent for a small temprary easement.

The attitude from the DM woman I emailed and then spoke with stunk, so I refused access. Then did a private arrangement without them being involved to resolve the problme on teh Ground.

Then had another run in with them wanting access for survey works for a potential borehole 2-3 miles away then might drop the groundwater. I refused access again as they would not respond to an email....

 

[nick...]

You have my sympathies.got national grid trying to walk all over us here and despite what we want and don’t want they will I expect succeed.I’d suggest being a complete pain in their arses.it won’t do any good but will give you some satisfaction.
nick…

 

[Devil's advocate]

Surely the cable run is only "lost" while they cut the trench and install? Thats not going to be ten years.

In any case, you can look through all the documents on the NSIP website:

Documents | Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets

national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk

This will show land plans, or at least the boundary for areas considered for the cable route. The likely need would be for a lease of the subsoil for the cable, and compensation would be payable. As an affected landowner, you would be invited to any discussions as an Interested Party, however the early consultation for this project has begun back in October.

Just get an agent. You can make representations, however for a national infrastructure project if it turns out yours is the only land that can be used then it will be used! However, in all cases the preference is to do it by agreement / option with decent money paid.

Chances are for mitigation, you may find they will want to lease land, and pay you far in excess of what can be made from farming, and you may even still be able to graze it.

Tesla is right don't waste energy on a fight you cannot win.

Just get the best land agent in the country to really make the beggars pay. Try to come out of it with as much as possible.

Maybe alter entrances & look to get some planning for houses so you can sell up & buy a better farm.

 

[steveR]

Surely the cable run is only "lost" while they cut the trench and install? Thats not going to be ten years.

In any case, you can look through all the documents on the NSIP website:

Documents | Morgan and Morecambe Offshore Wind Farms Transmission Assets

national-infrastructure-consenting.planninginspectorate.gov.uk

This will show land plans, or at least the boundary for areas considered for the cable route. The likely need would be for a lease of the subsoil for the cable, and compensation would be payable. As an affected landowner, you would be invited to any discussions as an Interested Party, however the early consultation for this project has begun back in October.

Just get an agent. You can make representations, however for a national infrastructure project if it turns out yours is the only land that can be used then it will be used! However, in all cases the preference is to do it by agreement / option with decent money paid.

Chances are for mitigation, you may find they will want to lease land, and pay you far in excess of what can be made from farming, and you may even still be able to graze it.

From personal experience of the long term damage caused to land from big infrastructure works to farm land, the OP and his neighbours will be lucku to see their land with the same quality back I am afraid... :-(

In my view, make sure land is stripped to subsoil depth at a suitable width, subsoil the land either side of the new trench, and insist on a new french drain either side of the cable trench to pick up any and all drains that are fecked up, and they will be. Also allow for a new exit route for the new drains. Only then, return the topsoil.

Contractors will bend over backwards to save money, to bank for themselves.

Compensation for crop loss may stretch for many years... factor that in. If you can get enough compo to allow for long term loss via Leasing, that can work I am told, but never been a option here.


Best of luck.

 

[charlie94]

Tesla is right don't waste energy on a fight you cannot win.

Just get the best land agent in the country to really make the beggars pay. Try to come out of it with as much as possible.

Maybe alter entrances & look to get some planning for houses so you can sell up & buy a better farm.

That's the sad reality
You never actually have a proper say of what happens on your own family farm

Trying my best to keep it all going and this comes along whilst dad has been infirm for 15 years

 

[hoff135]

You have my sympathies.got national grid trying to walk all over us here and despite what we want and don’t want they will I expect succeed.I’d suggest being a complete pain in their arses.it won’t do any good but will give you some satisfaction.
nick…

Unfortunately many of us are finding out that our title deed is nothing more than a scrap of paper, utterly worthless when the government wants your land.

 

[grainboy]

And all of this to become carbon neutral.
Couldn’t make it up really,

 

[Hindsight]

Got one
But they'll only pay so much an hour for him and he's more than what he is an hour

Have all the affected farmers / landowners not got together for a joint land agent. Across here The Viking Connector and Tritton Knowl cables have been laid in the past six years or so, so there is a model for you to use as a basis for your own situation.

 

[steveR]

Have all the affected farmers / landowners not got together for a joint land agent. Across here The Viking Connector and Tritton Knowl cables have been laid in the past six years or so, so there is a model for you to use as a basis for your own situation.

Divide and Runover, is probably the DM way.....