Turbine near Bridlington 'would blight historic monolith site'

CONSERVATION group English Heritage has warned an East Riding beauty spot could be blighted by a wind turbine.

Developers want to build a turbine measuring almost 70m in Rudston, near Bridlington.

The village was the birthplace of author Winifred Holtby and is home to the Rudston Monolith, the UK's tallest standing stone.

English Heritage's objection joins those raised by Bridlington Civic Society, the Ministry of Defence and walking groups.

A spokesman for English Heritage said: "We believe development would have a potentially harmful impact on the setting and significance of several designated heritage assets in the area, in particular Rudston parish church and the Rudston Monolith."

The group's submission to planning authorities at East Riding Council described the Monolith, which dates from 1600BC, as "a nationally important designated heritage asset and one of the best-known prehistoric monuments in the country".

Bridlington Civic Society had already raised objections to the turbine.

Secretary Maureen Bell welcomed the support of English Heritage.

She said: "The Civic Society is glad they have responded.

"Much of the history of the Wolds is underestimated and unprotected."

She thinks the council is likely to reject the turbine application but is worried their decision could be overturned by central government.

Ms Bell said: "At council level they take everything into account and I think there's a reasonable chance.

"But it could go to appeal and that's national government policy, which makes a mockery of the Localism Bill."

The Civic Society is concerned Bridlington could soon be surrounded by turbines on all sides.

Ms Bell said: "We're going to continue to respond to all of the large-scale wind turbine applications. They're developing a collar around Bridlington and they're spoiling the Wolds.

"We still have our doubts about the efficacy of turbines and we wish money was invested into less obtrusive methods of green energy."

As well as being close to the monolith, the turbine would also be visible from the home of author Winifred Holtby.

Her novel, South Riding, helped make the Wolds landscape famous. In August, the MoD raised concerns the turbine would interfere with its radar at Staxton Wold.

It said: "The probability of the radar detecting aircraft flying over or in the vicinity of the turbine would be reduced and the RAF would be unable to provide a full air surveillance service in the area."

And Peter Ayling of the Ramblers' Association told planners the turbine would damage the area's beauty and blight views of "the village of Rudston and its unique standing stone".

Rudston Parish Council objects and more than 100 homeowners have written to planners with their views.

Lady Juliet MacDonald lives in Thorpe Hall stately home and runs a campsite on her land. She said: "Wind turbines above 20m should not be built around Rudston village.

"The application site is far too close to the centre of the village."

Many other villagers filled in a standard letter of objection.

It said the turbine could cause noise nuisance and shadow flicker, interfere with red kites and barn owls living nearby, and damage views across the Wolds countryside.

The turbine would be 66.7m high to its tip.

To view the planning application online, visit www.eastriding.gov.uk/newpublicaccess and search for 12/03125/STPLF.