November 16, 2012
England

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty…

Todmorden News | 15 November 2012 | www.todmordennews.co.uk

Campaigners against a proposed wind farm on the hills above Todmorden hope the applicants will meet them to answer specific questions they have about it.

Steve Bottomley, of the newly-formed Gorpley Against Turbines group, said around 40 or 50 people opposing proposals by Kelda Water to place a number of 125m turbines on land it owns at Gorpley, off Bacup Road, Todmorden, had attended a question and answer session held by Kelda at Todmorden Town Hall last week.

But they were unimpressed by the general nature of some of the information they were given and have invited Kelda representatives to meet with them in Todmorden to dicuss specific concerns.

“To all the questions we asked we were given the diplomatic answers, offering generalisations not specifics,” said Mr Bottomley.

He said the group is now linked to the Save The Dales group which is opposing similar schemes by Kelda, now Yorkshire Water’s parent company, to develop wind turbines at two sites near Harrogate.

A spokesman for Kelda said he would ask colleagues if they would meet the group.

For its part, the exhibition was the final one before the company submits its planning application to Calderdale Council.

“The event itself was to give some general information but our project team were on hand to answer specific questions,” he said.

He added that the application should be put in over the next two weeks and people could then view the details.

Mr Bottomley said campaigners against the turbines – Kelda put a scoping report to Calderdale outlining proposals earlier in the year – felt a questionnaire provided asked “leading” questions.

The Kelda spokesman said the company recognised that some people would have different views and it had strived to provide a transparent process.

Campaigners have concerns over noise and visual pollution and the effect turbines would have on the lanscape and wildlife.

The company claims it needs to generate more of its own power to cut costs – campaigners say it makes plenty of money, according to the company’s own accounts, and allege the move is simply to increase profits

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/11/16/lets-get-down-to-the-nitty-gritty/