March 9, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
Plans for a controversial wind farm on the Pennines above South Yorkshire have been given the go ahead despite almost 500 letters of objection.
Council officials admit the proposals for the three 320ft high turbines at Crow Edge are “contentious” and that they will be visible for miles around – including from the nearby Peak Park.
The site is judged as being “high in sensitivity” to development and earlier plans for turbines on the site were turned down by planners and a government inspector as unsuitable because of their impact on the landscape.
But officials now say attitudes to renewable energy projects have changed.
The plans were approved but must now be rubber-stamped by the government.
Banks Developments will build and operate three turbines, which will generate enough electricity to power 4,000 homes, on land next to the Hepworth Building Products works. Villagers opposing the scheme, formed an action group called Clowt – Crow Edge Locals Opposing Wind Turbines.
The Peak Park, which starts less than two miles away from the site, also objected and 480 letters arguing against the plans were also sent to Barnsley Council.
But the Campaign to Protect Rural England backed the scheme saying said the case for renewable energy outweighs objections over the appearance of the scheme.
Andy Tickle, CPRE head of planning, “We have considered the environmental benefits this proposal will bring by providing clean energy. It is our view that the landscape impacts are not sufficiently detrimental to outweigh the benefits of combating climate change.”
TESCO will open a new supermarket in Penistone next year after the controversial plans were approved by Barnsley Council.
Work is due to start by the end of this year after the £15 million market redevelopment scheme – first mooted 10 years ago – was finally given the go-ahead.
Coun Brenda Hinchliffe, who lives in Penistone, said: “I fully support the proposals ““ there’s currently nobody in Penistone on a Saturday, and that’s because they are shopping elsewhere.”
But Pete Riley, of PRALS – Penistone Residents Against Large Supermarkets, said of the decision: “We were hugely disappointed by the decision to give this Tesco store the go ahead. We were dismayed by the vote but equally disappointed by the quality of the discussion prior to it.”
By Gail Robinson
8 March 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/03/09/wind-farm-bid-wins-approval/