December 6, 2006
U.K.
U.K.
Residents fighting plans to erect three giant wind turbines near their homes have reacted angrily today to news that a national power company wants to build another windfarm nearby.
Controversial plans for three giant 328 feet high wind turbines at Crow Edge have already led to more than 300 letters of objection from villagers living in the rural area near Penistone.
Now E.ON, the UK’s largest energy company, has revealed it is to carry out feasibility studies to erect three more turbines on land just half a mile away.
The company is considering erecting three turbines, which could each be as high as 360ft, on land at Blackstone Edge, between Crow Edge and the existing Royd Moor 13-turbine windfarm on a ridge above Thurlstone and Penistone.
Dunford Parish Council chairman, Alan Pestell, described the news as “bitter indeed” and said residents’ fears that the Pennine area will be blighted by more and more turbines appeared to be “sadly coming true”.
He said: “This latest news is a sign that the vultures are indeed gathering and we are going to have to fight even harder to protect our landscape.”
News of the E.ON interest at Blackstone Edge will be discussed at Dunford Parish Council tomorrow night.
It is expected that rural residents, who have formed an action group called Clowt ““ Crow Edge Locals Opposing Wind Turbines – will decide to oppose the latest plans as soon as they are submitted.
Jonathan Smith for E.ON said: “We are in the very early stages and are carrying out tests to see if that area of land would be suitable.
“Depending upon the results from feasibility studies it will be some months before we are at the stage of submitting a planning application.”
Mr Smith said the three turbines at Blackstone Edge would be a maximum of 120 metres high, and could be smaller.
He said modern turbines were more efficient than older ones such as those at Royd Moor and three turbines at Blackstone Edge could generate slightly more electricity than the existing 13 turbines at Royd Moor, producing 6.9 meggawatts – enough to power 3,500 homes.
By Gail Robinson
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/12/06/turbine-scheme-sparks-anger/