September 21, 2012
England

No appeal over Addingham wind turbines

Craven Herald & Pioneer | www.cravenherald.co.uk 21 September 2012

A water company’s decision not to fight plans for replacement wind turbines near Addingham has been welcomed.

Now Kelda Water Services is being urged to remove the remaining four outdated turbines – described as “rotting tooth stumps” – from the site at Chelker Reservoir.

Earlier this week Kelda Water, a sister company of Yorkshire Water, said it had decided not to appeal against Craven District Council’s refusal in February of its application to put two 75 metre high turbines on the site.

It had said that the new turbines would replace the four smaller ones, given permission in 1996 when wind technology was in its infancy.

Now, the firm is saying that it is reviewing the current turbines, only two of which still work.

Kelda’s business development director Peter Sharpe said: “We tried hard to reflect the feedback of the local community and interested parties in our proposal to replace the existing turbines.

“We have since conducted a thorough review of the reasons for the refusal of the application and have decided not to appeal.

“Wind power still remains an integral part of our sustainable-energy strategy and this decision does not impact on our other wind development proposals in the region.”

Craven District Council’s planning committee is currently looking into legal reasons to have the remaining turbines removed.

Coun Robert Heseltine (Ind) said he was delighted that Kelda Water had chosen not to appeal, even though the company had left it until the last moment before its ability to appeal ran out.

“I do welcome that the company has seen common sense, even at this eleventh hour and at least the landscape in that part of Wharfedale in the setting of the national park will have long term protection,” he said.

“But the debate on the removing of the two rotting tooth stumps still goes on and hopefully there won’t be a sting in the tale.”

Coun Heseltine added that he was aware Yorkshire Water had been carrying out trials on hydro power in the River Wharfe in the area and hoped that proved successful.

Addingham Civic Society chairman Jim Robinson said: “We’re delighted (with the decision not to appeal) because of course it was going to impact on the village in terms of views and loss of amenity.

“The next step is getting them to remove these things.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/09/21/no-appeal-over-addingham-wind-turbines/