Content © Stopwoodlanewindfarm 2008 - 2011
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Hook Moor - Approval announced 9 dec2011 after 2nd Public Inquiry - 11 Oct 2011 |
Wind turbines are as well as, not instead of the power stations
Special circumstances
The essence of Green Belt Policy is that it protects the countryside close to built up areas from encroachment by industry and by housing development. The protection is strong and in order to obtain planning permission a developer has to demonstrate special circumstances which justify development.
Wind farm developers argue that the generation of renewable energy is sufficient justification and use targets for renewable energy generation as part of the argument.
5 years of worry for residents - Third attempt by Banks Development to get planning approval
The residents of Micklefield and Aberford have been subject to 5 years of uncertainty about the proposed wind farm. It has been rejected twice. This is the third time the matter is being considered. People feel disenfranchised by the system which seems to favour big business at the expense of residents.
The key issue is that the wind farm is in Green Belt
The location next to the A1M and M1 intersection and its elevated location will ensure that very large numbers of people see the wind farm and from a long stretch of the road network. Travelling South on the A1 the turbines will be visible in the distance from North of Wetherby. Going North on the M1 they will be in line of sight from Junction 46 all the way to the A1M. From the A1M they will be in line of sight for about 8Km. These sections of road are all within the Green Belt as is the proposed wind farm.
Extends the boundary of industrialised West Yorkshire into the Green Belt
The wind farm will be the new marker for the edge of the industrialised area of West Yorkshire; on the A1M it will move the boundary of the industrialised area from Ferrybridge to Hook Moor. On the M1 it would take it from Stourton to Hook Moor, a significant encroachment of industrialisation into the Green Belt - by virtue of distance, size, prominence and number of people who will experience it.
Decision announced 9 December 2011.
Leeds City Council rejected the wind farm .
Banks development appealed and it was rejected again.
Banks challenged the decision in the High Court and got it quashed on a technicality.
Second appeal with a different Planning Inspector in October 2011. Decision to approve the wind farm announced 9 December 2011. It all goes to show what big business can do by spending large sums of money - but the prize of £1.25Million per year in subsidy allows them to do this. This is greed , not green.
The Inspector
Phillip Major
For Banks Development
Marcus Trinick QC
Stewart Proven
David Calvert
John Ingham