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?"

Article taken from Pontefract & Castleford Express 16 October 2009

 www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk

Environmental benefits created by a proposed wind farm in Darrington would outweigh any of its ‘adverse effects,' a public inquiry heard this week.

Banks Renewables' opening statement at the hearing in Wakefield also said the very special circumstances of the development exceeded any harm to a green belt site off Westfield Lane and any significant visual changes would not have an ‘oppressive or overbearing effect on local people'.

The inquiry began on Tuesday after Banks appealed against Wakefield Council planners' unanimous rejection of its scheme.

Banks' solicitor Richard Glover told appointed inspector Alan Robinson: "It is Banks' case that the proposed development would not result in any unacceptable adverse effects.

"Any adverse effects that do arise as a consequence of the development proceeding would be outweighed by the environmental benefits in terms of the contribution that the development would make towards the generation of energy from a clean and renewable resource, and the international, national, regional and local drive towards combating climate change."

Banks, the first party to present evidence to the two-week inquiry, has scaled back its wind farm from six to five turbines.