August 17, 2012
England

Residents pledge to fight Guisborough wind farm plan

by Mike Morgan, Evening Gazette | www.gazettelive.co.uk 17 August 2012

Families whose homes could be in the shadow of six massive wind turbines near Guisborough have told of their fears for the development.

Proposals for the £15.6m wind farm on land off Wilton Lane, Guisborough, include 410ft turbines, nearly twice the height of Middlesbrough’s Transporter Bridge.

If they are sited on a nearby hill, residents at 24 homes at the former ironstone miners Mount Pleasant homes say this could add hundreds of feet to the overall effect.

The proposed Bankfield Wind Farm, opposite a landfill site north of the A171, has already been criticised by many Guisborough locals, historians and conservationists.

But other locals welcome the potential “green power” scheme.

Developer Banks Renewables says 40 construction jobs will be created and local supply firms could tender for contracts worth about £3m.

Mount Pleasant residents, off Wilton Lane, whose homes lie within a few hundred yards of the vast proposed site have strong criticisms.

Teacher and mum of one Jacqueline Smith, 42, has lived in the terrace for 18 years.

She said: “I don’t want the turbines under any circumstances – even if there’s compensation.

“This community has hardly changed for 100 years.

“We moved here because of the view, isolation and because it’s a nice place to escape to.

“If they put these turbines here it will spoil the landscape and be a permanent eyesore.”

Developers have told the Gazette the scheme could produce power for 12,500 homes.

But in their own literature supplied to Mount Pleasant locals, they quote just 9,700.

Chauffeur Stuart McFarlane, 64, who has lived in Mount Pleasant 24 years with partner Angela, said: “This is a nice, quiet place – a small community of its own. We’re going to the consultation to see what the developers have to say.

“They’ll have a job getting permission, but I’m trying to keep an open mind.

“If the turbines are white or grey they’ll stand out like sore thumbs.

“Issues include oppressive size and possible noise. We already get noise from Guisborough bypass despite double glazing.”

He said locals may discuss a joint response.

He added: “This is Lord Gisborough’s land and it’s up to him what he does with it, but the houses are privately owned.”

Locals get their first look at the outline plans at a public exhibition from 3pm to 7pm on Tuesday, August 28, at Guisborough Methodist Church Hall.

Lord Gisborough was unavailable for comment yesterday.

But Philip Dyke, Banks Renewables development director, said people should “come along to our exhibition and get the facts before they make their minds up.”

A planning application for a mast to gather wind speed data will be submitted in the next few weeks ahead of a full planning application in about a year.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/17/residents-pledge-to-fight-guisborough-wind-farm-plan/