June 30, 2007
England
England
Controversial plans for a wind farm near the Doncaster village of Marr have moved a step closer.
Doncaster Council planning committee has given the scheme its backing, although about 150 residents from nearby villages oppose the plan.
Now the firm behind the scheme is promising to work with residents to try to address their concerns.
Banks Developments wants to build four 125-metre tall turbines on the site, either side of Hangman Stone Road.
The scheme has already been scaled down from an original proposal for eight turbines.
The site’s four neighbouring parish councils of Marr, less than a mile from where the turbines would be built, Hickleton, Barnburgh and High Melton, have filed objections.
But the scheme also received 237 letters of support, according to a report before the Doncaster planning committee.
Doncaster has a target of 10.6 megawatts of renewable energy to be met by 2010.
Besides the current Marr application, Doncaster is dealing with an application for 22 turbines at Tween Bridge, Thorne, which was originally opposed by the council and is the
subject of an ongoing public inquiry.
There are also plans for up to 10 turbines at Hampole.
Rob Williams, project manager at Banks, said: “We are very pleased that Doncaster Council is minded to grant planning permission for the Marr Wind Farm and firmly believe it can make a positive contribution towards meeting the area’s renewable energy targets.
“How we generate and use energy is one of the key challenges facing all of us in the 21st century, and harnessing energy from wind is the most proven form of renewable electricity generation in the UK.
“Input from local communities played a fundamental part in forming the final design and location of the Marr scheme, and we will continue to liaise closely with them around the construction and operation of the site.”
The scheme is now being referred to the Government’s Yorkshire and the Humber regional offices for final approval.
30 June 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/06/30/villagers-opposition-looks-doomed-to-failure-2/