January 13, 2011
England

Giant wind farm given go-ahead

By David Ford, Halifax Courier, www.halifaxcourier.co.uk 13 January 2011

Plans for a controversial moorland wind farm have been approved by councillors.

Todmorden residents have been fighting Coronation Power’s proposal for five 125m-high wind turbines at the site, off Flower Scar Road.

The Todmorden Moor wind farm will create enough green electricity to power about 11.4 per cent of homes across Calderdale.

A previous application was rejected as the plans did not give sufficient space for delivering the turbine blades to the site.

The overall size of the site has now been increased to avoid this problem.

Objectors arguments centred around the risk to household water supplies that are drawn from sources on the moor.

However, there is a condition attached to the application which requires Coronation Power to outline a private water supply protection plan to cover any problems.

There are a further 30 conditions that will require further approval from the council, over issues such as road access and colour of the turbines, before construction can begin.

The planning inspector said in his report: “I have found the need for and benefits of the Todmorden Moor scheme outweigh the adverse effects identified.”

Sarah Penney, from the Todmorden Moor Restoration Trust, who spoke as an objector at the meeting, said: “The balance of benefit has changed considerably. This is a public safety issue.

“This is a flooding area and will change the hydrology of the area significantly.”

Edward Romaine, legal advisor for Coronation Power, said: “Naturally we are delighted.

“We are one step towards a fantastic wind farm site.”

The wind farm will be in place for 25 years although there is no indication of when work will begin at the site.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/01/13/giant-wind-farm-given-go-ahead/