May 5, 2012
England

Action group fighting against a wind farm have raised concerns over new application

By Hannah Baker, Telegraph & Argus, www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk 5 May 2012

Campaigners fighting plans for a wind farm on Thornton Moor have raised further concerns after an application was put forward for another turbine in Bronte Country.

Keelham Farm Shop in Brighouse Denholme Road has submitted a planning application to Bradford Council for a 34.5m-high 50kw turbine in grazing land near to its farm buildings.

The business was granted permission to erect two small turbines two years ago but director James Robertshaw said a single, larger turbine would be more energy efficient and help reduce its carbon footprint. He said the proposed turbine would be installed below the farm shop and would not restrict the view from nearby properties.

He said: “We are trying to be as carbon neutral as we can but to get nearer we need a bigger turbine. It’s to feed the business as we are trying to help the environment. I’m hoping the planners will look favourably on the application.”

But Anthea Orchard, chairman of Thornton Moor Wind Farm Action Group, which is fighting plans for large-scale wind farms in the area, said she had been approached by residents who were concerned the surrounding countryside would become littered with turbines.

She said: “People in this area are becoming concerned about where it might stop. I agree every application has to be considered on its own merits but there’s an overall issue of cumulative impact and that can’t be ignored.”

Earlier this week, the Telegraph & Argus reported how the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England was calling on Ministers to protect areas such as the moorland in the Bradford district from the “industrialism of valued countryside” as a direct result of Government policies.

Rachael Whitehead, of Denholme Gate, has also raised concerns about wind turbines being installed in the area and voiced opposition to plans submitted for two 100-foot high wind turbines on fields at Well Heads Farm, Thornton, by Wellahead Energy Ltd.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/05/05/action-group-fighting-against-a-wind-farm-have-raised-concerns-over-new-application/