February 14, 2014
England

Neighbours in turmoil as turbine plans resurface

Todmorden News | 14 February 2014 | www.todmordennews.co.uk

Neighbours are again preparing to do battle over proposals to develop a wind farm on the moorland above Todmorden.

This week Kelda Water Services leafleted townspeople about proposals to submit a revised wind energy development on land Yorkshire Water, which is part of Kelda, owns near Gorpley Reservoir above Bacup Road.

The resubmission, being made to Calderdale Council, is for four instead of five, as per a previous refused application, turbines, each 125m in height, and they have set up two public exhibitions to give people the chance to go along and ask questions.

These are on Monday, February 17, at Todmorden Town Hall, from 2pm to 8pm, and on Wednesday, February 19, at Bacup Hub, Burnley Road, Bacup, from 2pm to 8pm.

The company says the changes in this application are “significant”, removing the nearest turbine to homes and including a smaller development footprint and reduced visual impact.

But campaigners against the initial proposal are unimpressed and are urging people to reiterate their objections to the new application during the planning process.

Mr Steve Bottomley, whose home is nearest the site, said concerns about noise and visual pollution and the effect turbines would have on the landscape and wildlife, in addition to the cumulative effect with schemes on adjacent pieces of moorland now beginning to appear, remained.

“Kelda have lost a battle to build up in Harrogate. It is the cumulative effect again here – we are going to be totally surrounded by turbines. We hope people will reiterate their concerns,” he said.

Although Kelda had contacted him about the new proposals, he knew other neighbours most closely affected who had not been approached, he said.

A Kelda spokesman said: “Kelda Water Services is in the process of contacting thousands of customers about their revised plans at Gorpley, and take consultation with customers and stakeholders very seriously. Residents close to the site had letters hand delivered so they received them as soon as possible, with the remainder being sent by first class post earlier this week.

“Customers can find out more about the project by visiting the dedicated webpage www.keldawater.co.uk/gorpley where further information is available, including details of the two consultation events being held next week.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/14/neighbours-in-turmoil-as-turbine-plans-resurface/