July 5, 2007
England
England
Controversial plans for a wind monitoring mast – the first step towards a wind farm at Darrington – are expected to be approved by council chiefs.
Banks Developments’ application for the 60 metre high mast on Westfield Lane has been recommended for approval at a meeting of the council’s planning committee tomorrow.
Banks Developments has also submitted a separate planning application for a wind farm of up to eight wind turbines on land between the A1 and Went Hill Ridge.
Hundreds of villagers have protested to Banks’ proposals and set up an action group to fight the plans.
Tony Hames, a founding member of the Pontefract Wind Farm Action Group (PWAG), said: “This monitoring mast is an integral part of the wind farm development and we intend to fight it all the way.
“A group member will speak at the meeting and we have a blimp floating where the mast would be on Westfield Lane for about six weeks – we want this proposal overturned.
“We are in favour of renewable energy, but not this close to homes, it’s dangerous.”
Pontefract South councillor Trevor Izon said: “I am absolutely dead against these plans and back the action group all the way.
“It seems as though Banks Development has submitted two separate applications so they can get a foot in the door for the wind farm.
“If the mast, then the farm, are passed then it will make homes and villages nearby uninhabitable and ruin an area of natural beauty – we will fight these plans to the very end.”
The application will be heard by the planning and highways committee from 10.30am at the County Hall on Wood Street, Wakefield.
By Staff Copy
Pontefract & Castleton Express
5 July 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/07/05/wind-of-change-3/