September 24, 2010
England

Second wind farm approved in spite of parish objections

By Simon Bristow, Yorkshire Post, www.yorkshirepost.co.uk 24 September 2010

Councillors have approved plans for a second wind farm near the Wolds Way, despite objections from campaigners who claim it would be an “ugly disaster”.

The application by Cornwall Light and Power to erect five turbines near Sancton was refused last March, but a revised version was passed yesterday by the planning committee at East Riding Council.

The approval came after a similar development of an adjacent six-turbine wind farm was given planning permission on appeal.

Both Sanction and Newbald parish councils objected to the “overpowering and unsightly” combination of the two schemes, which will be a kilometre – just over half a mile – from Sancton.

Natural England said the five-turbine farm would spoil the view from the Wolds Way, the national long-distance walking trail that runs from Hessle, along the Wolds tops and valleys to Filey Brigg.

The Ramblers Association also formally objected, saying it would ruin “a welcoming conspicuous landscape feature” visible to motorists driving east on the M62.

The association said: “The proposal for five turbines must be considered in conjunction with the adjacent proposal for six wind turbines submitted at Sober Hill.

“The provision of 11 turbines would be nothing less than an ugly disaster.”

But the developers said the revised plans featured a number of design changes to minimise its impact.

They said the development will “appear as one single wind farm… no materially different to what is already consented”.

The company must comply with eight conditions, including the formation of a community fund to deliver local facilities and “initiatives”, providing resources for off-site tree planting, and ensuring the site can be restored after 25 years.

The expected capacity of the farm is 10 MW.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/24/second-wind-farm-approved-in-spite-of-parish-objections/