Celebrity hairdresser Mark Hill joins wind turbine battle 

A celebrity hairdresser has urged a community to act now over proposals for a wind turbine in Willerby.

, Renewables company Lantanier Ireland wants to build an 87m wind turbine which would create 500 kilowatts of power, on land off Albion Lane to the north of the village.

The developer says the turbine will provide power to Wastewise, allowing it to focus investment on its work to reclaim and regenerate its old landfill tip.

Hairdresser to the stars Mark Hill, who has a salon in neighbouring village Kirk Ella and has lived in the area for 30 years, was among 140 residents at a protest meeting about the plans.

“I was absolutely shocked when the application to build an 87m wind turbine on top of a 55m hill was brought to my attention,” he said.

“How anyone can believe that it is appropriate to erect a wind turbine of that height, in such a highly visible location, in protected and valued landscape of such high quality, directly adjacent to major roads is beyond me.

“Aside from the danger to road users who are inevitably going to be distracted by the rotation of the enormous rotor blades and the constant disturbance from noise, there is a hugely detrimental impact on the visual amenity of all nearby residents.

“I fear that if the community do not act now then this could be the thin end of the wedge with future applications for more turbines on this site and across this area.”

The campaign has gathered pace after East Riding Council’s planning committee last week approved Lantanier Ireland’s application for a temporary 60m anemometry mast at land north west of Mill House in Albion Lane.

The decision was split five votes for and five against, but the committee chairman, Councillor Phyllis Pollard, feared their objections to the 22cm wide mast would not stand at appeal and used her overriding casting vote to approve the application.

Mr Hill said: “Having heard a 60m anemometer mast has been given the go-ahead for development on the same site, it is now even more crucial for the public to get behind the campaign to stop further turbines being built.

“I am still struggling to understand how we could even be considering such a project in this area and I urge each and every person in the surrounding area to register their views for this project.

“Unless we stand up to this type of project now, this will spoil our beautiful countryside for future generations.”

Clare Walters, of Lantanier, said they are offering to supply other businesses with cheap electricity from the turbine.

In addition, a Community Benefit Fund of about £2,500 per year would be provided to invest into the local community.

“This is an excellent proposal with many different benefits for the area,” she said. “Recognising questions have been asked about the visual impact of the turbine, we have deliberately selected a smaller turbine for the site that is 87m to the blade tip and I can reassure residents there is no scope for increasing the number of turbines.”

Although the official consultation period is over, residents can still submit their comments on the plans for the next fortnight.

To view the application, visit www.eastriding.gov.uk/newpublic access and search for 13/02629.