September 17, 2011
England

Energy giant’s ‘monster’ wind farm plan for East Yorkshire

Hull Daily Mail, www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk 17 September 2011

An energy company could turn a picturesque area of the East Riding into potentially England’s biggest onshore wind farm, the Mail can reveal.

Scottish Power is considering putting up to 26 turbines on more than 1,700 acres of land between Hornsea and Skirlaugh.

It would be roughly equivalent to the size of 850 football pitches.

The farm could pass through Skirlaugh, Long Riston, Whitedale, Sigglesthorne, Great Hatfield, Old Ellerby and end close to Hornsea Mere.

East Riding councillor Matthew Grove, who represents Mid Holderness, said residents feel they are being invaded by wind farms.

“This farm is a monster,” he said. “In one fell swoop, this will change the landscape for the next 30 years.

“People already feel under attack from wind farms and this shows the full scale of the invasion.

“This is the next stage in wind farms, it is like a wind estate. It is much bigger than a wind farm. They will cover a whole area with wind turbines.

“There appears to be no limit to the ambition of wind farm companies. There comes a point when the planning system has to say no.

“When people see this they will be devastated.”

The biggest wind farm in England is currently Scout Moor in Greater Manchester, which has 26 turbines over 1,347 acres of moorland.

Each of the turbines there stands at 91m (300ft) high.

The biggest wind farm currently in East Yorkshire is at Lissett, with 12 wind turbines each 125m (410ft) high.

Landowners have received letters from engineering support services company Babcock on behalf of Scottish Power asking whether “such a proposal would be of interest”.

However, the company has not contacted residents, East Riding Council or any parish councils.

Mr Grove added: “What I am mad about is they have released these details into the public domain without showing respect to the local people by talking to them.

“These companies are just riding roughshod over the views and feelings of huge communities.

“For it to have started in this way does not help the process. I am livid.

“I don’t have a problem with 26 turbines on a moor, or three a mile outside of a village.

“What I do have a problem with is putting 26 turbines across six or seven villages and a town. There is a huge question mark over what is acceptable.”

The letter sent to landowners this week reads: “Babcock have been instructed to complete preliminary investigations into land ownership with a view to the possible development of a wind farm site.

“Our client, a major British and European renewable energy provider, wishes to assess the feasibility of a wind farm site in the areas shown as ‘potential turbine locations’. At this stage we are simply assessing the suitability and feasibility.”

When approached by the Mail about the possible wind farm, Scottish Power said it was too early to discuss the size of the turbines or other specifics.

On the reasons for looking at the site, the spokesman said: “We are looking at places where there is available land with minimal constraints for that sort of development.”

Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart said: “This is no way to treat local people. Why didn’t the company talk to local councillors or the local MP and ask how best to consult?

“Too many companies try to ride roughshod over local concerns and fail to think through the implications of their actions.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/17/energy-giants-monster-wind-farm-plan-for-east-yorkshire/