Could Romans stop turbine plan?, Teesdale Mercury

DEVELOPERS say they will submit a planning application for a wind farm in Teesdale this month – but archaeologists say the land is likely to be part of a Roman site.

Npower Renewables wants to build up to six wind turbines about 400 metres from houses in Bolam.

The energy firm has so far only submitted a scoping report to Durham County Council, expressing an interest in the site.

But Npower Renewables said it now plans to submit a planning application to the council by the end of the year. Villagers have formed a campaign group, called Bolam and Area Action Group (BAAG), to fight the proposal.

Residents also hope that Durham County Council will grant conservation status to the village.

They hope it would make give greater weight to the case against the wind farm.

Bolam Parish Meeting has paid an archaeologist to carry out an investigation into the village’s history.

Niall Hammond, from local firm Archaeo-Environment, said the land where the wind farm is proposed is an important historical site.

Immediately east of the village is Dere Street – a major Roman road from York to Hadrian’s Wall.

Although there are no known remains of the prehistoric or Roman era in the village, Mr Hammond said it is likely that Bolam has an ancient history.

He said: “Such an absence of evidence is most likely due to medieval and later plough activity and lack of fieldwork in the area as soils, topography and proximity to Dere Street make both late prehistoric and Roman activity in the area highly likely.

“Two cropmark sites are known from aerial photographs to the north-east of the village and which currently have no identification and these may represent evidence of now buried occupation sites of later prehistory or Roman periods.”

The archeologist added: “The wider area of the middle Tees valley surrounding Bolam contains significant evidence for both prehistoric and Roman activity.

“A Roman marching camp is known as a cropmark from Sandforth Moor, less than a kilometre to the south.”

Mr Hammond said Leggs Cross, a 9th century Anglo-Saxon estate boundary marker, near Bolam, has national importance. 

More than 30 people attended a meeting in Bolam recently to discuss the conservation status bid. 

However, Durham County Council has suggested that the boundaries of the conservation area may not be as far ranging as Mr Hammond’s proposal. He said it should include the area from Leggs Cross to Hindberries – the site of the proposed wind farm. 

Meanwhile, Npower has told the council to expect the formal application in the coming weeks.

Npower said the application would be accompanied by environmental studies.