May 19, 2011
England

STOP windfarm protestors appeal for support

www.goolecourier.co.uk 19 May 2011

Campaigners are urging the public to turn out and support their fight against plans for two windfarms in Spaldington which go before a public inquiry next week.

The hearing, which starts next Tuesday (May 24) surrounds plans to build a total of 12 turbines near the village, which campaigners argue will overshadow their homes and the surrounding landscape, as well as cause noise and other disturbance.

The plans by German company Volkswind for seven turbines at Spaldington Common and those by energy company Falck Renewables to build five at the former Spaldington Airfield, were thrown out by East Riding Council (ERYC) – a decision which both companies are appealing.

Members of STOP (Spaldington Turbine Opposition Project) are urging members of the public to turn up and support them as often as they can throughout the inquiry, which is to be held at the ERYC’s Goole chambers, on Church Street and which is expected to last around three weeks.

STOP has raised £65,000 to pay for specialist help in their fight and will be represented by barrister Tina Douglas, renowned for having fought and won windfarm planning appeals for objectors in other parts of the country.

In addition to a planning consultant, STOP’s team will also include a landscape expert to help represent their claim that the turbines will spoil views of the Howdenshire countryside – including towering over Howden Minster.

If given the go-ahead, the two wind farms will be either side of the village, with more than 50 homes 1,000 metres away from the nearest turbine, 18 just 640 metres away and nine 550 metres or less.

A Volkswind spokesman said their scheme would provide clean renewable energy for more than 9,000 homes and save 18,194 tonnes of harmful greenhouse gas a year, while Falck said tests had shown the area was an ideal site for a wind farm to meet green energy targets.

The public inquiry starts at 9.30am next Tuesday and will run between Tuesday and Friday of each week.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/05/19/stop-windfarm-protestors-appeal-for-support/