July 1, 2011
England

Residents’ new wind farm fight

The Star, www.thestar.co.uk 1 July 2011

New wind turbine plans have been launched in a rural part of South Yorkshire – 18 months after residents won a battle to stop a previous development.

The new plans involves land at Chapel Farm, at Tofts Lane, near Green Moor, Hunshelf, where an application has been made for a single, 78-metre turbine.

The site is close to Sheephouse Heights, where plans for five turbines were rejected at the end of 2009.

Developers were invited to a meeting held by Hunshelf Parish Council to discuss the plans with residents – where parish clerk David Horsfall claims they were unprepared for the level of questioning about the scheme.

He alleged they expected meeting a group of ‘hillbillies’ and instead had to reply to knowledgeable questioning.

Mr Horsfall said: “The representatives thought they would be meeting a bunch of hillbillies and country bumpkins but they got a shock when they had to answer some very good questions about this proposal especially about decibels and possible noise problems.

“There is a lot of concern about this development because it is felt that if this is approved it will be the thin end of the wedge for further turbines in this area.”

The parish council will discuss the view of parishioners at its meeting next month when they will decide what action to take about the planning application.

Barnsley Council’s planning committee will decide whether the scheme should go ahead later this year.

Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Angela Smith said she was concerned to hear of the new turbine plans.

She said: “With Green Moor, the community will need to work out how close it is to the Peak District National Park boundary and people’s homes in order to make a case to oppose the plans.”

Applicant Harry Bond is working with York-based firm Arcus Renewables to propose the turbine, which would be linked to the national grid and Mr Bond would receive payments via the Feed in Tariff scheme.

Andrew Mott, of Arcus Renewables, said: “The proposed turbine would stand at 78m tall. The proposed location would see the turbine located between two 50m electricity pylons which are already in position at the site. The proposal is for one single turbine.

“In order to adequately assess the potential noise impacts of the proposed turbine a detailed noise assessment was carried out in line with government guidance which confirmed that noise levels at all residential properties would be well below the relevant limits for either of the two turbine models that are being considered.”

■ A further application has been made for two 15-metre high wind turbines in the same area, at Avice Royd Farm, Hunshelf Bank, which is also to be considered for planning permission by Barnsley Council.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/01/residents-new-wind-farm-fight/