Content © Stopwoodlanewindfarm 2008 - 2011
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Hook Moor wind farm approved. 9 Dec 2011 Big subsidies attract big business which then rides roughshod over everybody and everything. These five turbines will get about £1.25 Million per year subsidy. |
Wind turbines are as well as, not instead of the power stations
After a five year battle Hook Moor wind farm has now been approved. The site is in Green Belt, and while the Inspector recognised that harm would be done, the appeal by Banks Development was allowed. The justification given for the decision was UK targets (based on EU directives) for Britain to have capacity to generate 30% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. This is set out in the Renewables Energy Strategy 2009 and wind farms are a preferred technology - see the DECC Renewable Energy road map of July 2011.
The interests of people who live in villages less than 1km from the turbines were not considered important. Such is the way with Government policy on wind farms.
The wind farm is in Green Belt - which wind farm developers consider to be a suitable place for industrial structures. The site is next to a historic garden , but even this counted for not very much consideration.
The initial refusal by Leeds City Council was because of RAF radar. The appeal decision says this can be dealt with by a condition and the developer is given 5 years in which to resolve this and commence development.
That makes up to 10 years of uncertainty for residents. That is 10 years during which it will be made more difficult to sell property.
For those travelling south from Scotch Corner it will be first industrial structures in nearly 50 miles - extending industrialised West Yorkshire well out into the Green Belt. Those visiting Lotherton Hall will find it dominated by industrialisation. People living in Aberford and Micklefield will be faced with a view of 125 metre high turbines, with the sun flickering through the rotating blades in the morning.
Banks Development will receive an annual subsidy of about £1.25Million per year, paid via a levy on our electricity bills.
When the decision was announced we received a flurry of comments -
Click to read the second set - the third set - map of the site - back to first comment.
Read the report in Yorkshire Post, including comment from Nigel Adams MP for Selby and Ainsty.
Up to 10 years of uncertainty.
People living close to the site have already had 5 years of uncertainty, they could now get another 5 years because the wind farm still cannot go ahead until an RAF radar problem is solved.