January 6, 2012
England

Wind turbines ‘would scar’ resort’s historic esplanade

Yorkshire Post, www.yorkshirepost.co.uk 6 January 2012

A conservationist has blasted proposals to erect 16 wind turbines on the roof of a historic Scarborough hotel claiming the move would be a “scar” on the seaside resort’s renowned Victorian Esplanade.

The chairman of the town’s Civic Society, Adrian Perry, has labelled the plans for the prestigious Crown Spa Hotel as an act of “vandalism” on one of the town’s rare Grade II* listed buildings.

The group has joined English Heritage and a string of nearby residents in strongly objecting to the application, which is set to go before planners next week. The plans would see a row of turbines ranging from six to 13ft high built next to 19 existing solar panels on the roof of the prestigious hotel, which was built in around 1840 and is one of the country’s top historic buildings.

The hotel’s owners say the turbines would achieve a 50 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions by 2015.

Mr Perry said: “It’s like trying to put wind turbines on the headland next to Scarborough Castle. It’s scandalous. There are so few Grade II listed buildings in Scarborough, it’s just vandalism really.”

He added the proposal could set a precedent for all the remaining hotels and homes on the Esplanade, as well as other historical landmarks in the town, such as the Grand Hotel and Town Hall.

“Instead of the Esplanade being a Victorian development, it would be scarred with these wind turbines all the way along the front.”

Despite receiving over 20 letters of support for the proposal, officers at Scarborough Council have recommended that the application is turned down due to the visual impact on the building and the threat of noise to neighbours.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/01/06/wind-turbines-would-scar-resorts-historic-esplanade/