November 16, 2013
England

Yorkshire Wolds wind turbines to be twice the height of Beverley Minster towers

By Hull Daily Mail | Posted: November 16, 2013 | www.hulldailymail.co.uk

Up to ten wind turbines could be built on the highest point of the Yorkshire Wolds, it has been revealed. RWE npower renewables has confirmed that although its studies for a wind farm at the Cottam Airfield site, near Driffield, are at a very early stage, initial plans consist of building up to ten turbines.

The maximum height of each turbine will be 116m – twice the height of Beverley Minster’s historic north-west tower.

The first public event showcasing RWE’s plans will be held at Cass Hall in Driffield on Saturday, November 30.

Dee Nun, RWE npower renewables’ developer for the proposed development, said: “The next stage of our consultation is to seek the views of local residents on our plans.

“The drop-in day will include information on our studies at the site, the infrastructure needed for a wind farm development and details on how we will take forward the layout of the proposed scheme.”

Plans to build a wind farm at the site have been met with anger by some local residents.

Since hearing of the plans, Diann Atkin, Cottam Parish Council clerk, has set up a petition against the proposed Cottam Airfield Wind Farm.

She said: “The Yorkshire Wolds are, in my view, an area of outstanding natural beauty and should not be industrialised by the land being used for large wind farms.

“I believe that the Yorkshire Wolds in their present state represent some of the finest visual landscape in Yorkshire and, as such, are of high value.

“Because of the height of the Wolds, these wind farms will have a high visual impact of at least a 30-mile radius.”

Despite being built as a bomber airfield as a satellite to RAF Driffield, poor weather conditions meant Cottam was never used for that purpose.

Its watch office was demolished in 1980 and its runways and buildings were previously used for bomb storage.

The Yorkshire Wolds are seen by many as an iconic landmark.

Ms Atkin said: “The top point of the Wolds is a beautiful place.

“Over in Hull, you can actually see the top of the Wolds from a tall building, such as Hull Royal Infirmary. I have painted it many a time.”

As well as holding the drop-in day for members of the public, RWE has also launched a project website and distributed an information leaflet about the proposed wind farm to about 10,500 households.

A spokesman for RWE said: “We would like to take this opportunity to encourage as many people as possible to attend the drop-in day, where the project team will be available to talk through our draft proposals and answer questions.”

Visit www.npower-renewables. com/cottamairfield to find out more about the proposed development.

Councillors at RWE npower renewables workshops

REPRESENTATIVES from 90 parish councils were recently invited to take part in two special consultation workshops regarding the proposed wind farm development at Cottam Airfield, near Driffield.

Dee Nunn, RWE npower renewables’ developer for the proposed Cottam Airfield Wind Farm, said: “These workshops were an important first step in our commitment to early engagement and we are grateful to all those parish councillors who attended.

“We have now analysed the responses we received and have already started to act on this feedback.

“It was clear that councillors felt it important that people had a feel for what might be proposed for the site.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/11/16/yorkshire-wolds-wind-turbines-to-be-twice-the-height-of-beverley-minster-towers/