Pontefract Windfarm Action Group

Victory for post office

Extracts from www.pontandcasguardian.co.uk/ Friday, July 18th 2008.

Shock and surprise has been felt across the district as it was announced this week that only one of the nine post offices earmarked for closure will escape the chop.

Hardwick Road Post Office, on Mapel Drive, Pontefract, is the only branch in Wakefield District to escape closure, thanks at least in part to vigorous campaign by local residents and councillors.....

Pontefract South Conservative Councillor Mark Crowther, who joined in with the campaign, said: ..."This result shows that if local people think a decision made by politicans is wrong then they can do something about it. They can get like minded people together and collect evidence. They can make a difference"...

Some of the reasons why P.W.A.G. believe this planning application should fail:

1. The Planning Application Document itself is deeply flawed with significant omissions and inconsistencies.

2. The turbines are too close to residential dwellings.

3. The impact on the Landscape Character of Went Edge is severe.

4. The proposed site is Green Belt and this proposal contravenes a wide range of planning policies.

5. Local residents would be adversely affected by noise day and night.

6. The assessment of the incidence of ‘Shadow Flicker' demonstrates that its occurrence will be an unacceptable nuisance.

7. The distraction of the wind farm in such close proximity to the A1 trunk road will increase the risk of accidents.

8. There is a risk of aircraft accidents caused by spurious radar images.

9. There is a high probability of loss of TV reception.

10. The wind farm presents unacceptable risks to public safety.

11. The huge local opposition to this proposal indicates the depth of feeling among residents of many communities.

12. The potential detrimental impact on the local economy as this proposal seriously degrades the attractiveness of the area thus diminishing inward movement into the area.

External consultants to be considered.

This planning application is a massive undertaking for Wakefield M.D.C and a wind farm of this size and close proximity to houses will have huge implications on us all. Consequently Wakefield M.D.C are considering employing an external consultant to help them with this planning application. In the mean time they have extended the application date to 30^th September 2008.

At present there has been no consultants appointed, when we have more information on who the consultants are and what their brief is we will let you know via our website.