'Sunsets at Silloth'

Location : Silloth

Silloth is noted for its invigorating but mild climate, its leisurely peaceful atmosphere and perhaps, most of all, its glorious sea views and sunsets fine enough to be recorded for posterity by Turner, the famous landscape artist.

However - you better come and see these views while you still have a chance, because plans to build Britain’s biggest offshore wind farm in the Solway Firth - Robin Rigg, which will have 60 wind turbine generators, each 427 feet tall, will turn to reality soon.

Despite this plan having met with strong local opposition, the Scottish Executive, which had the final say on the £150m project, approved the project in March 2003. The wind farm will be on a sandbank, in the middle of Solway Firth, 5.3 miles from the Scottish mainland, and 5.9 miles from the English side. Objections have also come from Cumbria and Allerdale Councils.

Brian Irving, of the Solway Rural Initiative, said: "I feel that the turbines would be inappropriate here. "The Solway Firth is one of the last unspoiled estuaries in the United Kingdom. It is something we just can't lose. "I don't feel this development is particularly offshore, it is in the neck of the estuary, so it is inshore."

Artists Percy Kelly, Sheila Fell and her friend, L.S. Lowry, walked these sands and were all inspired by the views across the Solway. Not for much longer.

Photographs by Mike Faulkner.

See also :

• Views of Scotland
• Robin Rigg Offshore Wind Farm Act
• The Case Against Wind farms