April 26, 2012
England

Headland ‘not the place for wind farm’

Yorkshire Post, www.yorkshirepost.co.uk 26 April 2012

Campaigners against wind turbines going up on a protected headland are urging councillors to support hundreds of objections from as far away as Scarborough at a meeting today.

East Riding councillors will decide a number of applications on Monday, including three at Bempton, all within the Flamborough Heritage Headland Coast.

The turbine, which has aroused the most controversy, would be 150ft tall and go up less than than half a mile from the RSPB Visitor Centre at Bempton Cliffs. Objections to the turbine, which will supply electricity to a pig unit at Norway Farm, have come from Bridlington, Scarborough and Filey Councils, two parish councils and 168 residents.

Natural England and the Campaign to Protect Rural England are also objecting.

Objectors say it will be clearly visible from surrounding area, including Filey Bay and Filey itself.

Villager David Hinde, a spokesman for Bempton Residents Against Turbines, said: “The wider community from Scarborough to Filey and Bridlington have said very clearly that this is not the place for wind turbines. We want to protect this beautiful heritage coast and I hope the councillors unanimously reject these applications and send a clear message to everybody planning turbines for this area: find somewhere else – this is not the place.”

Five turbines have already been approved in the locality – including one 110ft tall – and even if campaigners do win their fight today there are other applications in the pipeline, including two 100ft turbines at Short Lane, Bempton.

Planners are recommending councillors refuse the Norway Farm application and another for two 80ft turbines at Manor Farm.

They say the Norway Farm turbine has the “potential for significant harm to views to and from the coastal area” and would also conflict with the defence radar at Staxton Wold.

The meeting at County Hall, Beverley, starts at 2pm.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/04/26/headland-not-the-place-for-wind-farm/