November 13, 2013
England

Objectors ‘must write again’ say planners

By Andrew Robinson | Yorkshire Post | 13 November 2013 | www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

Villages who have objected to plans for a wind turbine have been told they must write to the council a second time – because the plan has changed.

Residents in Lower Cumberworth, Denby Dale, Shelley and Shepley, near Huddersfield, fear plans for a single turbine on land off Coal Pit Lane, Lower Cumberworth, will spoil views and be a blot on the landscape, much of which is rural.

Objectors believe as many as 200 people have written to Kirklees Council to oppose the plan.

The developer has withdrawn the application and submitted another with a lower power output.

Members of Huddersfield Against Large Turbines are annoyed at having to restate their opposition.

Spokeswoman Louise Taylor said: “We were shocked to hear that Kirklees planning are discounting letters of objection and objectors will have to write again.”

She said the process appeared to help neutralise opposition.

“The ‘new’ application is identical to the previous application, in almost every aspect, with only the wattage amended and HALT feel all objections based on all other issues should still be considered.

“Kirklees planning are exercising their ‘discretionary’ powers and refusing to do so and insist all objectors must write again, repeating their reasons for opposing the turbine.”

A council spokesman said: “As the council has received a new application for a turbine it has to ensure the procedures are followed correctly.

“This application is not for an identical proposal to that previously submitted and the council is therefore not in a position to assume that those who objected to or supported the proposal last time still do so now.”

He added: “New representations will need to be submitted for this application but there are many ways to do this including through email at planning.contactcentre@kirklees.gov.uk and the council’s website.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/11/13/objectors-must-write-again-say-planners/