Giant wind turbines planned for farmland
Up to six giant wind turbines could be built on land near the junction of the M1 and M18.
Chesterfield-based Banks Developments are to apply for planning permission to build Rotherham’s second wind farm on land known as Penny Hill, between Ulley and Thurcroft.
Today Rotherham Council said it has not received any planning application — but admitted it is in talks with Banks Developments about the proposals.
The company is to hold a series of public exhibitions to outline its proposals to erect the turbines, which are likely to be around 80 metres high.
The proposal development could spark off protests similar to those which greeted the plans for three turbines at Loscar Farm, Harthill, which was approved last month despite a two-year campaign by protesters. The two sites are just a couple of miles apart.
Rob Williams of Banks Developments said: “A number of layouts are still being considered for the site, but it is likely a scheme of up to six turbines with hub heights of around 80 metres will be proposed.
“The scheme would provide a significant and stable supply of renewable energy for use in local homes, as well as a range of other direct benefits, and we hope that as many local residents as possible visit our exhibitions to find out all about it.”
“Should the scheme be approved, the communities around the development will benefit directly from a package of initiatives designed to help tackle fuel poverty, to enable community groups to install other forms of renewable energy and to give local people the chance to share in the profits from the scheme themselves.”
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The first two exhibitions are from 3 to 7pm on Tuesday, May 27, at Holy Trinity Church, Ulley, and at Aston Parish Hall. On the following day exhibitions will be held at from 3 to 7pm in the Gordon Bennett Memorial Hall in Thurcroft and again at Holy Trinity Church in Ulley.
Mr Williams said: “Comm-unity feedback on the initial proposals will inform the final design of the scheme and members of the Banks Dev-elopments team will be on hand at the exhibitions to answer queries from local people and to gather feedback from them.
“Generating energy from renewable sources such as wind farms is becoming increasingly important, but Banks believes it is also very important that the communities in which this energy generation takes place benefit from it as well.
“Banks would provide specialist advice to local community groups and organisations on how they might use ‘micro-renewable’ sources of energy at their premises, such as solar, wind, water or ground-source heat pumps, to both meet their energy needs and cut costs.
“And if local interest is sufficent, local people would also be able to share in the profits of the wind farm itself through investment in a financially-regulated co-operative trust.”
By Ray Parkin
17 May 2008
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
