Calls for map of East Yorkshire's wind turbines
CAMPAIGNERS are calling for a detailed map showing the location of every wind turbine in the East Riding.
East Riding Council's planning committee do not see others in the area that have already been approved when they consider further applications.
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Blowing in the Wind: Two farm wind turbines just outside Driffield on the road to Langtoft. Picture: Simon Kench
Campaigners say if they did have access to such a map, the effect of turbines on the landscape would be more visible.
David Hinde, who campaigns against East Riding wind farms, said: "We should be having maps of all the turbines in the area so people can see what has been approved.
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"It would strengthen the councillors' views on landscape and heritage if they had these maps."
Councillor Chad Chadwick raised the issue at a planning meeting.
He said: "We asked if we could have dots on a map so we could check out how many turbines would be in an area.
"We didn't get a conclusion but officers should probably come back to the next committee with a map or an explanation. I think it can be helpful, which is why I brought it up."
At the moment, many turbines are not built because the Ministry of Defence (MoD) believes they could interfere with a radar at Staxton Wold, near Bridlington.
But a new system aimed at reducing their effect is to be tested at the site in July.
If it is successful, defence chiefs could drop their objections.
Campaigners believe the only way to prevent hundreds of turbines springing up would then be to show their effect on the countryside.
Mr Hinde said: "Council officers seem quite happy at playing this game of rejecting turbines on MoD grounds only.
"We need not to rely just on the MoD protecting our landscape."
Other protesters added their voices to Mr Hinde's.
Steve Hey, chairman of the No To Wolds Wind Farm Group, believes a map should be available to the public.
He said: "People are getting a lot of turbines dropped in their villages and it would be handy to have a single resource."
George Hornsey fights wind farms in the Wolds and said it was "crazy" the information was not already available to councillors.
Mr Hornsey said: "They have to assess cumulative impact for consented, planned and proposed turbines.
"How on earth can they do that if there is not a joined-up map of where they all are?
"I think it's a crazy situation if the information is not available to make these decisions."
Councillor Jane Evison, ward member for East Wolds and Coastal, has raised constituents' concerns about wind farms in the past.
She said: "I think our planning committee is well aware of the permissions they are giving for turbines but I think a map is something we certainly can discuss.
"If the committee thinks it is something that would be useful for them I would support that."
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Comments
by jolson16
Monday, October 08 2012, 11:05AM
“I suggest York 12 downloads the ERYC Strategic Planning Committee Minutes for 4 October Meeting and will find there are no cumulative impact maps produced for the Councillors.
Maps provided by the applicants or their agents are not provided to the Planning Committees as they have to be checked for accuracy and do not differentiate as to what has been approved and what is a proposal.
Otherwise why wouldn't the Planning Officers duplicate these and put them in the Agenda Papers-THE FACT IS THEY DON't -SO DON'T BLAME THE COUNCILLORs YORK 12 -IT IS THE PLANNING OFFICERS THAT IS NOT INFORMING THEM WITH VISUAL INFORMATION -THAT IS THEIR JOB.....”
by TIGERPETER
Monday, October 08 2012, 10:36AM
“Wind Farms are a bigger waste of public funds as some parts of our benefits system are.”
by York12
Monday, October 08 2012, 10:20AM
“This article isn't very accurate, as part of any application a cumulative plan showing the location of operational, consented and turbine applications in planning is also provided. So I think its the standard case of committee members not reading the information provided to them.”
by kempton
Monday, October 08 2012, 10:18AM
“Beginning should have read" I guess my hull is another deluded fool who thinks these things re wonderful when..."”
by York12
Monday, October 08 2012, 10:17AM
“This article isn't very accurate, as part of any application a cumulative plan showing the location of operational, consented and turbine applications in planning is also provided. So I think its the standard case of committee members not reading the information provided to them.”
by kempton
Monday, October 08 2012, 10:13AM
“I guess my hill I not her deluded fool who thinks thee things are wonderful hen in fact the stupid green policies and subsidising of these things are going to cost us derly in the not too distant future, when we we will be left hiring in the dark whilst other countries are unaffected.
Yesterday I passed a number of these things on the road to Brdilington and not one was turning.
Of course at other times they have to be switched off because they are turning too fast, at others they have to switch off because no one hs thought to build facilities for storing excess capacity. Needless to say the operators are " compensated" for this. So they don 't lose either way. The only loser being ourselves who end up overpaying for energy because these charges are tacked on to our energy bills.
It would be interesting to see how many would be rushing to build these things or have them installed on their land if it wasn't for the massive subsidies. And if it takes these subsidies to make it worthwhile it shows this is not an efficient way of producing energy.”
by myhull
Monday, October 08 2012, 9:56AM
“Haha, it'll just end up being a map of nimby camp sites!”
by jolson16
Monday, October 08 2012, 9:22AM
“When it comes from the Planning Officers the Maps are official & will be used by the Councillors.
The information is on their system -they just need to push the right buttons & transfer it as they have for Eastern Area Planning Committee but for Strategic Planning Committee they are supplying maps 6 months out of date and only with turbines of over 50 metres -Not the full cumulative impact.
Let's see the truth.!!!!”
by jolson16
Monday, October 08 2012, 9:19AM
“WITH ALL THESE 'GREED ENERGY ' PROPOSALS WE NEED THE FULLEST INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED TO THE PUBLIC & OUR COUNCILLORS.
THE PLANNING OFFICERS SEEM TO HAVE A DIFFERENT AGENDA.wHILST OUR COUNCILLORS ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO PROTECT THE AREA.
IT IS THE PLANNING OFFICERS & THOSE CARRYING OUT LANDSCAPE & VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS THAT NEED SORTING OUT.”
by Halloway
Monday, October 08 2012, 9:08AM
“Go to Google Maps and make your own.”