December 1, 2013
England

Tim Krul joins Tranwell Woods wind farm battle

By Brian Daniel | The Journal | 30 Nov 2013 | www.thejournal.co.uk

Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul is fighting to “save” his family from the threat of massive wind turbines on their doorstep.

The Dutch player has lodged an objection with council planners over proposals for four 115m engines which he claims would be around 800m from the home he shares with his girlfriend.

The 25-year-old international has also lent his backing to an action group opposing the planned wind farm – donating signed United gear which members auctioned to raise money for their fighting fund.

Krul lives at Tranwell Woods near Morpeth in Northumberland with partner Claire Hall.

Their garden borders the former RAF airfield where developer Wind Ventures has a planning application lodged with Northumberland County Council.

Krul has penned a letter to the authority voicing his opposition to the application.

In it, he says: “Our house is directly in view of the proposed wind farm which cannot be more than 800m from our back door…I have great concerns over the welfare and health risks this proposal will cause my family if this scheme is approved.

“This proposal puts me and my family and other residents at risk of noise pollution and there may also be a greater risk to personal safety. From our garden we have uninterrupted views of rolling Northumberland countryside and on a clear day we can see for miles and miles.”

In his letter, Krul also claims the turbines will “threaten the rural setting of Tranwell and the surrounding villages and settlements.”

He argues the wind farm will have a “significant negative impact on the landscape” and also local wildlife. He says the engines would have “significant and unacceptable adverse impacts on the openness and visual amenity” of the Green Belt extension North of Morpeth.

The goalkeeper has also donated a signed shirt and pair of gloves, and defender Steven Taylor’s shirt signed by the whole United squad to the Tranwell Windfarm Action Group.

The group auctioned both with the money raised going to its fighting fund.

Group chairman Penny Norton said: “There has been a lot of support from him because he lives in Tranwell. He has been very supportive.”

Krul’s objection is one of 362 sent to the council by residents in the area.

Whalton, Mitford and Stannington parish councils and Morpeth Town Council have also objected as have Newcastle International Airport and the Ministry of Defence.

The proposals have yielded 18 letters of support.

The county council’s planning and environment committee is being recommended to refuse the scheme at its meeting on Tuesday night.

Last night, Adrian Butler, Wind Ventures’ project manager, declined to comment on Krul’s objection.

“He is a local resident I expect. He is entitled to his opinions.”

Mr Butler hit out at the council however.

“I am very disappointed with the recommendation and even surprised by it as well. I am surprised that it has taken 12 months from submission to get to this stage when the points of concerns being expressed are fairly straight forward matters that any planning officer would have been aware of from the outset.”

Mr Butler said the company would look at an appeal if councillors follow the recommendation.

“It is something we would have to consider, it is an option available to us and we will give consideration to that.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/12/01/tim-krul-joins-tranwell-woods-wind-farm-battle/