July 11, 2012
England

Work to start on controversial wind farm

The Star | www.thestar.co.uk 11 July 2012

Work is set to start next week on a controversial wind farm comprising six massive turbines next to a picturesque Rotherham village.

The Penny Hill Wind Farm is being built on agricultural land next to the farming village of Ulley .

Developed by County Durham-based Banks Renewables, it is due to be operational next March

Plans for the 130m high turbines on the wind farm sparked a massive protest from Ulley villagers and residents in surrounding villages, but Rotherham Council approved the planning application.

Peter Longbottom, Banks business development manager, told a Rotherham Council Assembly in Ulley that all heavy goods vehicles taking the turbines and other materials to the site would travel along the M1, A57 and then on Penny Hill Lane to create minimal disturbance.

Last year, Penny Hill Wind Farm provided £50,000 to set up a Rotherham Warm Zone which has resulted in a number of local properties being improved to reduce energy bills with more to follow.

And when the turbines are operational the wind farm will invest £20,400 each year into a community fund to be spent on local projects.

In addition, more than 500m of new hedgerows and new trees will be planted to enhance habitats for the local wildlife.

The wind farm, which has a working life of 25 years, will provide more than 40 million units of renewable energy each year, enough to power 12,000 households each year.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/11/work-to-start-on-controversial-wind-farm/