Residents uneasy over prospect of wind farm (From Gazette & Herald)

Residents uneasy over prospect of wind farm

VILLAGERS near Selby have expressed their fears about a proposed new wind farm.

Residents in Drax and surrounding villages fear the giant wind turbines will be noisy, kill birds, devalue house prices and be a blot on the landscape.

Wind Prospect wants to build 14 wind turbines, each more than 300ft tall, in the parish of Newland, 1.4 miles east of Drax village. They would be visible from as far away as the Yorkshire Wolds.

The Bristol-based company said the turbines would be at least half-a-mile from the nearest residential property.

It said the environmentally-friendly turbines would provide enough clean energy to meet the needs of more than 17,000 homes. It says the Rusholme wind farm would prevent 68,000 tonnes of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, being discharged into the atmosphere each year.

Development manager Helen Plowman said: "Concerns about the effects of global warming are growing. The wind, along with other forms of renewable energy, provides us with an alternative source of power that doesn't add to the problem."

Wind Prospect hired Drax Village Hall to answer questions from local residents and display computerised images of what the 14 two-megawatt turbines would look like.

A resident of Newland, who did not wish to be named, said he was worried the noise might disturb his horses and cattle.

He said: "I've been told property value could decrease by 30pc if this went ahead.

"I want to know if Selby Council is going to give us a rates rebate."

Drax Parish Council chairman Ian Fenton said members would be questioning Wind Prospect on how the turbines would affect wildlife and TV reception.

He said: "I think wind generators are great but they should be off-shore. I'm sure that most people in this area won't find them particularly attractive."

Wind Prospect development manager Helen Plowman said noise from the turbines should not exceed 40 decibels.

She said: "That's not what you would call noisy when you consider that the background noise in this village hall today is around 65 decibels."

She added: "We've had a mixed response. Some people think it's a great idea and realise the environmental benefits, while others are quite concerned."

Mrs Plowman urged those residents with fears to visit a windfarm they had recently constructed at Out Newton, near Easington, east of Hull, so they could judge for themselves.

Wind Prospect is now putting together an environmental assessment statement, involving the landscape, noise and archaeology. Selby District Council is yet to consider the planning application.

Updated: 15:17 Wednesday, October 01, 2003