By Julie Hayes, Business Reporter, The Press, www.yorkpress.co.uk 23 April 2011By Julie Hayes, Business Reporter, The Press, www.yorkpress.co.uk 23 April 2011
A wind farm that could supply the annual electricity needs of nearly 10,000 homes may be built in North Yorkshire.
RWE npower renewables has submitted plans to Ryedale District Council to build ten wind turbines at East Heslerton, between Malton and Scarborough.
The turbines would have a maximum height of 126 metres to the blade tip, and the applicants say the wind farm could produce enough renewable electricity to meet the average annual electricity needs of 9,700 homes.
About 200 people attended a public consultation about the proposal, which was held by the business in August last year.
RWE said 65 per cent of the feedback on the scheme was in support of the windfarm.
Bernard Cole, chairman of Heslerton Parish Council, said the parish council carried out its own survey across East and West Heslerton, asking residents to give their names and addresses.
Of the 46 per cent of residents who replied, he said opinions were split almost in half.
He said: “As we were asking people to give their names and addresses, I think 46 per cent was a very strong response.
“The idea was to be as democratic as possible, and the parish council’s stance would be a direct reflection of that survey.”
He said the parish council had received the technical specification of the proposal and was waiting to receive the consultation correspondence, which it will discuss at its next meeting early next month.
Martin Wood, RWE npower renewables developer, said: “Meeting UK targets for renewable energy is a huge challenge and onshore wind farms, such as the one proposed at East Heslerton, are a vital part of the ongoing effort to tackle climate change.
“The feedback we received from the public consultation was extremely encouraging.
“The results from a wide range of studies and from the public consultation have enabled the development of a wind farm design which we consider will have minimal environmental and social impacts and is sympathetic to the surrounding area.”
A newsletter detailing the proposal has been sent to more than 3,300 homes within 10km of the site.
Copies of the planning application and an environmental statement are available to view at Ryedale District Council offices.
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/04/23/ten-wind-turbines-proposed-for-site-at-east-heslerton-in-north-yorkshire/