July 2, 2016
England

Controversial plans to develop three wind turbines in Hoddlesden re-submitted

Stephanie Brawn, Darwen reporter | Lancashire Telegraph | www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk

Controversial plans to develop three wind turbines measuring almost 77 metres in Hoddlesden have been re-submitted despite receiving hundreds of objections last time.

Viridis Wind Turbines have lodged amended plans to build the turbines in Hoddlesden Moss despite original plans submitted to Blackburn with Darwen Council in 2015 receiving around 400 objections.

If given the green light the development will spread across two wards, North Turton with Tockholes and East Rural.

Community leaders claim the turbines would have a detrimental effect on the landscape and they will be seen from other areas as well.

Councillor Jean Rigby, representative for North Turton with Tockholes, said: “Unless anything major has changed with these plans I will be objecting to them again, as will the parish council I’m sure.

“There are many worries about how they will affect the wildlife in that area and how they will change the outlook visually.

“We can also already see a good portion of the turbines near the Grane Road as it is.

“They are ugly and unnecessary.

“We should be looking more towards nuclear power and I am very surprised to see this application submitted again.” Last year the council stated that the proposal failed to demonstrate that the impact of the development on the landscape character and functioning of the West Pennine Moors and the countryside area would be ‘satisfactorily mitigated or compensated’.

In 2011, the land was also one of several sites identified in a project to rescue ‘lost’ common land in East Lancashire. Viridis Wind Turbines said in its plans: “The proposed energy converters would have a tip height of 76.5m with a hub height of 46m.

“The site has a very good wind speed resource with good laminar wind flow.”

Cllr Julie Slater, representative for East Rural ward, said residents are already coming forward asking her to object to the development.

She said: “Hoddlesden Moss is a highly sensitive area and one of my main concerns is the possible water contamination this development may cause.

“A lot of the farms there use spring for their water that run underground. If they start putting things in the ground, this water could become undrinkable.

“People have also expressed worries before about the effect it will have on property values and the noise caused.

“I will stand and support my resident.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2016/07/02/controversial-plans-to-develop-three-wind-turbines-in-hoddlesden-re-submitted/