By Lucy Leeson | Hull Daily Mail | January 22, 2014 | www.hulldailymail.co.uk
Residents living close to an East Yorkshire beach fear their landscape will be blighted by wind turbines.
Airvolution Energy Limited has submitted a planning application to build four 410ft-high turbines at Demming Farm, near Fraisthorpe – close to nine others that have already been approved.
Residents are urging East Riding councillors to reject the plans when the council’s planning committee meets tomorrow.
Despite hundreds of objections, including one from artist David Hockney, a government inspector approved the building of the nine turbines next to the beach at Fraisthorpe last January, while at nearby Carnaby, two 410ft wind turbines have been approved.
Locals say this, along with plans to add five turbines to the 12 already at Lissett wind farm three miles away, will blight the area’s landscape.
Resident Alan McLean said: “It is turning an agricultural landscape into a quasi-industrial landscape, particularly, if God forbid, the Lissett extension is allowed, as they are all in the same plan.
“Particularly looking down from up on the Wolds, it will be a turbine landscape. I hope the council turns it down not only on the heritage aspect, but also on the cumulative impact and the creation of a turbine landscape.”
English Heritage states the wind farms will cause “substantial” harm to Burton Agnes Hall, while Bridlington Town Council and Bridlington Civic Society are also objecting to Airvolution Energy Limited’s application.
A total of 18 people have written to East Riding Council with their objections.
Bridlington Town Crier David Hinde is one of those who put pen to paper.
He believes there is a danger of “a belt of turbines” being created, stretching from Lissett to Burton Agnes and Thornholme, and wants the Government and East Yorkshire MP Sir Greg Knight to “stand by their word” and ensure no more wind farms are built in the area.
Mr Hinde said: “The encouraging thing is that Communities Secretary Eric Pickles had turned down a couple of appeals and Thornholme and West Heslerton, where RWE Npower Renewables is appealing against the refusal of planning permission to build ten 413ft turbines, has been called in by Eric Pickles.
“We are hopeful they will keep to what they said and, where communities don’t want them, they will give weight to their views.
“We are waiting for the proof of the pudding.”
Despite letters of objection, East Riding Council has received seven letters in support of the application, with people stating they would prefer the visual impact of the wind turbines to fracking.
Councillors will make their decision on the application at their meeting tomorrow.