Opinions split on windfarm go-ahead
Thorne and District Gazette|March 6, 2008
The government's approval of a huge windfarm on the edge of the Thorne Moors Nature Reserve has prompted a mixed reaction. Environmental pressure groups have welcomed the green light for energy firm E. ON's plans for 22 turbines at the Tween Bridge which will produce enough power for up to 26,500 homes. But the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and local campaigners say they are horrified at its potential impact on the peat lowlands landscape. The project was approved after a six-month public inquiry and following an agreement being struck between E. ON and Robin Hood Airport as bosses at the transport hub originally feared the wind farm would interfere with its radar system.
The government's approval of a huge windfarm on the edge of the Thorne Moors Nature Reserve has prompted a mixed reaction. Environmental pressure groups have welcomed the green light for energy firm E. ON's plans for 22 turbines at the Tween Bridge which will produce enough power for up to 26,500 homes. But the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and local campaigners say they are horrified at its potential impact on the peat lowlands landscape. The project was approved after a six-month public inquiry and following an agreement being struck between E. ON and Robin Hood Airport as bosses at the transport hub originally feared the wind farm would interfere with its radar system.
The government's approval of a huge windfarm on the edge of the Thorne Moors Nature Reserve has prompted a mixed reaction.
Environmental pressure groups have welcomed the green light for energy firm E. ON's plans for 22 turbines at the Tween Bridge which will produce enough power for up to 26,500 homes.
But the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and local campaigners say they are horrified at its potential impact on the peat lowlands landscape.
The project was approved after a six-month public inquiry and following an agreement being struck between E. ON and Robin Hood Airport as bosses at the transport hub originally feared the wind farm would interfere with its radar system.
Alterations have been made to ease their …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]The government's approval of a huge windfarm on the edge of the Thorne Moors Nature Reserve has prompted a mixed reaction.
Environmental pressure groups have welcomed the green light for energy firm E. ON's plans for 22 turbines at the Tween Bridge which will produce enough power for up to 26,500 homes.
But the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and local campaigners say they are horrified at its potential impact on the peat lowlands landscape.
The project was approved after a six-month public inquiry and following an agreement being struck between E. ON and Robin Hood Airport as bosses at the transport hub originally feared the wind farm would interfere with its radar system.
Alterations have been made to ease their concerns.
The wind turbines will be up to 125 metres to the tip of the highest blade and work on the site is expected to start from 2009.
The scheme was approved by energy minister Malcolm Wicks along with a wind farm of 39 turbines at Keadby, near Scunthorpe, and the two taken together will be one of the biggest in the country.
Friends of the Earth's Yorkshire and Humber branch said the government's move to grant planning permission was part of the solution towards tackling climate change and similar developments should follow.
But Andy Tickle, head of planning at the CPRE, said efforts to protect Thorne Moors from peat digging over the last 20 years would now be undermined.
He said the peatlands were a "green island for the people of South Yorkshire" and deserved to be protected around their edges.
The plans had also been opposed by local action group the Thorne and District Windfarm Action Group and the council received 1,500 individual letters of objection.
Don Valley MP, Caroline Flint had originally objected to the scheme but said her main concern that airport safety should not be compromised had been allayed by the provision of additional radar paid for by the energy firm.
She commented: "This has been a very thorough process and, as I stated at the inquiry, I have always been a strong supporter of wind farms and renewable energy projects in principle. Renewables are part of Britain's future."
E.ON's head of new business Danny Shaw said: "We're delighted with this decision as the scheme will not only provide local job opportunities, it'll also help to fight climate change by making a significant
contribution to the government's renewable energy targets."
He said that in addition to the green benefits of the scheme, which would save more than 1.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over its lifetime, E.ON also has plans for a ocmmunity fund that could contribute up to £1.25 million to worthy local projects and initiatives.