February 14, 2014
England

Willerby wind turbine plan rejected but residents prepared for further battle

By Angus Young | Hull Daily Mail | February 14, 2014 | www.hulldailymail.co.uk

Campaigners say they are prepared for a long fight against plans for a wind turbine on a hill overlooking Willerby.

An application to install the 87m-high turbine at a landfill site in Albion Lane was unanimously refused by East Riding councillors yesterday.

Developers Lantanier Ireland Ltd now have the option of appealing against the decision.

Several other wind turbine schemes rejected by councillors in recent months have been approved on appeal.

But Councillor Mike Whitehead, who represents Willerby and Kirk Ella, said residents were ready to put their case to a public inquiry if necessary.

“As a community, we are not going to let this rest. We do not want this wind turbine,” he said.

“We want to send a strong message to the applicant and the landowner that if they do decide to go to appeal, we want any inquiry to be held in public because I think there will be hundreds of people will want to speak against this.”

A total of 450 letters of objection from residents and businesses were submitted to the committee, along with a 416-name petition.

Among them was Kirk Ella-based celebrity hairdresser Mark Hill, who claimed the proposed turbine would be a blot on the landscape.

Speaking at yesterday’s planning committee meeting, Cllr Whitehead said the single turbine would dominate the surrounding area because it was intended to stand on top of a 60m hill.

“From a visual point of view, this would the largest wind turbine in the East Riding, directly affecting the greatest number of people,” he said.

Paul Tunstall, who spoke on behalf of a residents’ group formed to fight the scheme, said: “The visual impact is patently unacceptable.

“It is close to a main arterial road and roundabout and it will tower over communities at the height of 20 double-decker buses.

“It’s the wrong development in the wrong place.”

The company did not send any representative to speak in support of its application at yesterday’s meeting.

Campaigners against the scheme have also questioned who exactly is behind the proposal, as Lantanier Ireland Ltd is not registered in either the UK or Ireland.

The application was submitted on behalf of Lantanier Ireland Ltd by a planning consultancy.

Another planning agent is also identified to be associated with the scheme in documents submitted to East Riding Council.

Their concerns have been shared by Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis, who this week wrote to local government minister Kris Hopkins over the issue.

In a letter, Mr Davis said he was worried over where subsidy payments might end up if it was not clear who was actually behind the Willerby wind turbine plan should it get the go-ahead.

“It is important to establish the real people behind this wind farm investment before providing them with any taxpayers’ money,” he said.

“It is important that people who receive subsidies pay taxes.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/14/willerby-wind-turbine-plan-rejected-but-residents-prepared-for-further-battle/