March 28, 2007
U.K.

Council objects to turbines bid

Plans to build a 10-turbine windfarm on the borders of Hartlepool have been slammed.

Hartlepool Borough Council was asked by Sedgefield Borough Council to give its opinions on the installation of the 360ft-high turbines on land close to Hartlepool’s border, north of the A689.

A report to the council’s planning committee said the 10 turbines were planned for an area next to Walkway Wind Farm, which already has consent for a windfarm with seven turbines.

But Hartlepool councillors voted six-to-one against having the turbines on Butterwick Moor on grounds of inefficiency, size, location, visual impact and their effect on the environment.

Councillor John Marshall said he had seen evidence that said the turbines were 70 per cent inefficient and added: “We need 1,000 tonnes of concrete to put a turbine up and we know just how polluting that stuff can be.

“We try our best to create areas where people can walk in the countryside and yet we are continuously looking out on these turbines which are bigger than jumbo jets.”

Councillor Stan Kaiser claimed the turbines in his Elwick ward operated infrequently and added: “My ward has in it a large area of the Wynyard development. If, in fact, this is on the borderline, nobody in my ward will have been consulted.”

But Richard Teece, the council’s development control manager, said objections that had been raised had come as a result of consultation with local residents.

Councillor Carl Richardson said he was in favour of the turbines: “Not all turbines are going to be jumbo jets and use 1,000 tonnes of concrete. What about radioactive waste? We need to get away from nuclear power”, he said.

The councillors objection was echoed by a letter from Sedgefield and Wynyard Against Turbines (Swat), which formed part of the report.

Sedgefield Council will make the final decision.

hartlepooltoday.co.uk

28 March 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/03/28/council-objects-to-turbines-bid/