March 17, 2011
England

Morley wind turbine plan turned down because of M62 safety fears

Morley Observer & Advertiser, www.morleyobserver.co.uk 17 March 2011

Councillors have turned down a planning application to put up two wind turbines next to the M62 because of safety fears.

Coun Tom Leadley, the chairman of Morley Town Council’s planning committee, has requested more information about the renewable energy scheme at Williams’ Tankers on Howley Park Road East.

The application will now go to Leeds City Council’s plans panel for a decision.

Coun Leadley said he was looking at a “worst case scenario” and that if the turbines were to be blown down then their distance from the M62, at their height plus an extra 10 per cent, might put motorists in danger.

Residents of Rein Road also went along to the last planning meeting to protest that the turbines would kill off wildlife, including kestrels and bats that live in the nearby quarry, and cause a noise nuisance.

However Matthew Tidmarsh of DC21, the firm that intends to install the turbines, said they were in talks with the Highways Agency and planning officers and were confident their turbines would be a safe distance from the motorway.

He added that they would be placed within a busy industrial area where there were already chimneys and radio masts and would only be heard from a maximum of 105m away.

The nearest homes on Rein Road are around 400m away.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/17/morley-wind-turbine-plan-turned-down-because-of-m62-safety-fears/