Pontefract Windfarm Action Group - Wind farm objectors face agonising wait

Wind farm objectors face agonising wait

pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk Published Date: 05 November 2009

By Staff Copy

A FINAL decision on whether a controversial wind farm will change the Darrington skyline is still months away after a public inquiry ended.

Residents who have dedicated their lives to fighting plans for five 125 metre high turbines off Westfield Lane, now face an agonising wait following the final day of the hearing last Wednesday.
The plans, from developer Banks Renewables, were rejected by Wakefield Council but the firm appealed.
In final statements John Denison, chairman of the West Park Action Group, told the hearing the scheme would affect residents' human rights.
He said: "The proposal is incompliant with most planning aims and likely to introduce serious health problems.
"There are hundreds of people around the world affected by giant industrial turbines suffering severe health and amenity problems - many live further from turbines than the proposed Darrington wind farm will be."
Non practising barrister Iwan Richards, representing Pontefract Wind Farm Action Group, revealed that The Green Party had filed one of 2,270 objections to the wind farm.
He added: "Banks has not demonstrated that very special circumstances (to build in the green belt) apply to this proposed development and therefore the local authority was correct in refusing the application."

Mr Richards also said the wind farm would be "intrusive and oppressive" and residents had genuine fears about it causing health problems.
Wakefield Council's solicitor Matthew Copeland said less weight should be given to the wind farm's benefits as the council would meet or exceed its renewable energy targets.
He added: "The council does not seek to suggest that contributing towards tackling climate change and seeking to reduce the causes of climate change are not important and significant aims.
"However, in the quest to secure a safe and sustainable environment for future generations, a degree of care, logic and precision thinking is required - not a blind and hysterical rush for any technology that is the fashion of the day."
Rob Williams, Renewables Projects Director at Banks Renewables, said: "We believe we have made a compelling case to the inquiry, and hope that it will recognise the suitability of this site for the wind farm."
Inspector Alan Robinson will visit Went Edge next week and is expected to make his recommendation to John Healey, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, before Christmas.