August 16, 2007
England

Second wind farm on way

A second wind farm is being proposed for Wakefield district at Knottingley.
UK-based renewable energy developer Your Energy is seeking residents’ views on proposals to erect up to 10 turbines on a site between Knottingley and Eggborough.

It follows a controversial proposals announced earlier this year by Banks Developments to build six 80m high turbines in the Went Valley at Darrington near Pontefract.

Your Energy is staging two public exhibitions between noon and 8pm at Knottingley Leisure Centre on August 29 and at Eggborough Village Hall on August 30.

Coun Graham Stokes, (Lab, Knottingley), said: “The company behind the plans say this scheme won’t affect people in Knottingley. But these windfarms are a bit of a blot on the landscape . I will reserve judgment until I have had a good look at the plans.”

Matt Kelly, senior development manager at Your Energy Ltd, said: “There will be many more studies over the coming year that will determine whether the site is in fact suitable and how many turbines the site could accommodate.

“We are totally committed to consulting with residents to gauge their views on our plans, which will also help us to fine tune things before we make any submissions to the planning departments at Selby and Wakefield.

“Whilst our research shows strong levels of support for wind farm developments, we recognise the importance of meeting residents to keep them updated and the need to continue to meet people who may still have concerns.”

The company says each turbine could power around 1,000 homes.

Last month campaigners won a victory in their battle against controversial plans for the Darrington wind farm.

Wakefield Council’s planning board rejected Banks’s application to erect a 60m wind monitoring mast for up to three years on land off Westfield Lane.

More than 760 people had objected to the temporary mast which the developers said is needed to determine the type of turbines needed to generate maximum electricity.

Scheme opponents say the turbines would be a blot on the Went Valley landscape.
Banks is considering lodging an appeal.

Yorkshire Evening Post

16 August 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/08/16/second-wind-farm-on-way/