A DEMONSTRATION group took to the streets of Ulverston to support the continued operation of Kirkby Moor wind farm.

The wind farm, one of the oldest in the UK, began operating in 1993, but its future remains uncertain.

The 12 turbines between Broughton and Ulverston have caused a lot of controversy, with Kirkby Moor Protectors (KMP) campaigning to stop the renewal of the existing wind farm and the installation of a new windfarm.

In December 2017, South Lakeland District Council denied Ventient Energy permission to extend the lifespan of the wind farm until 2027 with six councillors to five voting to block the proposal.

The company appealed the decision, saying continued use of the turbines would be beneficial to the community and the country’s green energy sector.

A public inquiry will be held at the Coronation Hall on January 22 to decide its fate.

Yesterday, demonstrators gathered outside the Coronation Hall to show their support for the wind farm, which they claim is important for the environment.

Peter Howlett, a member of the Green Party’s Ulverston branch, said Kirkby Moor wind farm was a vital asset to nearby communities.

A petition has been launched to keep the turbines and has more than 120,000 signatures to date.

Mr Howlett said: “The aim of the petition is to hopefully keep the current wind turbines in place after the planning application for more efficient ones was turned down.

“We should be encouraging renewable energy to reduce emissions and wind turbines do that.

“It’s ridiculous that people would want them taken down just because of how they look.

“I personally try to encourage people to look at them as a thing of beauty.”

A statement from the campaign group KMP said: ""Given the nature of their on-line petition the Green Party and Zephyr Investments (wind farm operators) must be very disappointed that only 120,000 responded.

"It was basically asking for a commitment to renewables and drew responses from all over the country and abroad. Given the fact that this is a local planning inquiry with many local issues, we don't think the views of people who are not local are relevant.

"Nowadays plans for windfarms must have the backing of the local community with each case taken on its individual merits. What really counts is what the local parishes, the local councillors, our local MP, Cumbria Tourism, Cumbria Wildlife, and a host of local agencies and organisations think."