September 17, 2011
England

Plans for wind farm ‘absolute madness’

Scarborough Evening News, www.scarborougheveningnews.co.uk 15 September 2011

Plans to build two wind turbines near Hunmanby have been branded “absolute madness” by campaigners.

Scarborough Council planning chiefs will today discuss a proposal for two 24.9 metre turbines to be erected at Stockendale Farm, in Hunmanby.

The plans for the Gaia turbines, each capable of producing 11KW of power, follow ongoing proposals for 14 turbines from developers Banks Renewables in the South Dale area.

However, Steve Hey, a spokesman for the No To Wolds Wind Farm group, said the turbines would ruin the vista and the group have launched a campaign to make the landscape an Area of Outstanding Beauty.

He added if the plans were given the go ahead, it could set a precedent for further applications which he feared would produce a plethora of mini wind farms across Hunmanby and the Wolds.

He said: “It is bad enough having the possibility of 14 turbines up to 145 metres high on South Dale, but with all these farm turbines we are already starting to create a wind farm by default.

“It is absolute madness.”

Mr Hey said the two turbines would be just 220 metres away from the Wolds Way National Trail, with a third turbine planned for Danebury Manor Farm, near Flixton, also running close to the popular route.

He pointed to esteemed Bridlington artist David Hockney and said the turbines would completely spoil the landscape which inspired so much of his famous work.

Mr Hey added: “The Wolds Way is a National Trail situated on the much loved prehistoric landscape of the Yorkshire Wolds.

“It doesn’t get much better than this, and indeed, as David Hockney would say, it is a spatial thrill.

“If all these turbines go ahead, what sort of legacy are we leaving?”

The concerns come as Banks Renewables prepare to meet with Hunmanby residents tonight in a second consultation event about the proposals.

The first meeting, held in July, at Hunmanby Playing Fields Association, brought a fiery and impassioned response from local residents anxious at the potential impact of the turbines on the local area.

However, Phil Dyke, development director for Banks Renewables, said he was pleased with the initial response,

He said: “There is clearly room for more local residents and community representatives to get involved, whatever their views of the South Dale scheme, and we hope that they will do so over the coming months.

“The community panel will provide a valuable forum for discussing the key issues surrounding our proposals, and the greater degree of local representation that we get, the more effective they will become.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/09/17/plans-for-wind-farm-absolute-madness/