By Staff Copy

Pontefract & Castleford Express

www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk

22 October 2009

Determined residents who have battled plans for a wind farm on their Darrington doorsteps are expected to give evidence to a public inquiry today.

Objectors to Banks Renewables' proposals will tell the hearing - triggered when the energy firm appealed Wakefield Council's unanimous rejection of the wind farm - their concerns as 17 witnesses for the Pontefract Wind Farm Action Group (PWAG) start to be called and cross examined.

Inspector Alan Robinson will also visit residents' homes and the site off Westfield Lane next Tuesday after witnesses from PWAG and the West Park Action Group have their say.

A blimp will be flown to illustrate the height of the five planned 125 metre high turbines during his tour.

On Friday the inquiry heard that despite 2,270 objections, the owner of stables near the wind farm site had not filed one.

Iwan Richards, representing PWAG, asked Banks' employee Justin Hancock, the company's final witness, if he was aware of the family connection.

Mr Richards added: "My instruction is that the owner of the stables is the daughter of the landowner.

"So it's not surprising, therefore, that the stable owner has not objected, is it?"

Mr Hancock also admitted he did not know how many jobs would be created by the wind farm.

When asked how the installation of five turbines could affect the open area, Mr Hancock said: "We are tackling climate change and climate change would affect the environment.

"That has been accepted by Natural England and other organisations so in that respect we would be preserving and protecting the environment."

On Tuesday the council's first witness Alex Warburton said "lesser weight in the balancing exercise should be given to the factor of maximising renewable energy" from the wind farm as the authority's renewable energy targets, of 11 Mega Watts by 2010 and 41 MW by 2020, were likely to be met.

But Banks' solicitor Richard Glover said that was not a reason to refuse planning permission and the wind farm would have "crucial national benefits" to tackling climate change.

Mr Glover also pointed out that renewable energy targets given to the council were a minimum to be increased if progress was made.

He told Mr Warburton: "What you should be thinking is not we are going to meet those targets but we are going to beat them."

Mr Warburton replied: "We should be aiming to exceed our targets - but not at any cost."

Several prospects for renewable energy schemes - including a biomass project in Featherstone and the largest one, Ferrybridge Power Station's plans for a 95MW multi-fuel heat and power facility - were cited by Mr Warburton in his proof to the inquiry.

Mr Glover questioned initiatives and claimed the Ferrybridge scheme was uncertain as it depended on a waste contract being secured.

He also said the council had been "seriously lagging behind" its targets when the wind farm was turned down in March.

Proceeding

By Staff Copy

Pontefract & Castleford Express

www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk

22 October 2009