Companies accused of dragging out wind farm inquiry
Companies seeking to build three wind farms came under fire yesterday for prolonging a public inquiry.
Developers AMEC, Steadings Wind Farm Ltd and Wind Prospect were accused of “unacceptable conduct” for their role in dragging an inquiry out to 10 months.
UK air traffic control body NATS En Route claimed the firms, who are seeking a combined 59 turbines near Kirkwhelpington, Northumberland, have put it at “an unnecessary cost” and forced it to pull experts away from their normal jobs.
The firm is objecting to the proposed wind farms on the basis of their impact on its radar.
And its barrister James Strachan told the inquiry, now hearing closing submissions, it had been “forced” to attend the hearing because developers would not agree a statement of common ground on the radar issue at the outset.
But he said companies now accept there would be an impact on the radar.
Addressing planning inspector David Rose, sitting at Tynedale Council chamber in Hexham, Mr Strachan said the developers’ actions were “no way to conduct the planning process”.
He said: “Why has it taken so long to get to this point? There is no reasonable answer other than the unacceptable conduct of the developers.”
The inquiry had earlier heard the closing statement of Newcastle International Airport, which is also objecting on the grounds of the effect of turbines on its air traffic control radar.
Barrister Thomas Hill claimed the developers had “hit the jackpot” by managing to attract objections from three different aviation bodies, the third being the Ministry of Defence.
Mr Hill said the developers had proposed “a ragbag” of “hairbrained schemes”, such as marking wind farm locations on the radar screen and switching the radar off. The inquiry also heard closing arguments from the objecting Tynedale Council.
It will resume on Tuesday, December 16, for closing statements from the MoD and the three applicants. Amec Project Investments Ltd is seeking to erect 20 turbines at Ray Estate, Wind Prospect Developments Ltd wants 18 60m structures at Green Rigg Fell, Birtley, and Steadings Wind Farm Ltd is proposing 21 at Steadings, Kirkwhelpington.
The Journal
20 November 2008
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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