Company 'confident' over scaled-down turbine plans (From Craven Herald)

Energiekontor UK confident new Brightenber Hill scheme is acceptable

10:50am Saturday 24th December 2011 in News

A “reasonable” person will accept scaled-down windfarm plans for three 100m turbines at Brightenber Hill near Gargrave, says the company behind the scheme.

Energiekontor UK has returned with new plans for the farmland at West Marton and it is confident of success – after removing the two closest turbines to a farm which led to the scheme being dismissed by a Government inspector 18 months ago.

However, objectors insist that the site has been proved as not suitable for turbines and have complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about a “misleading” publicity leaflet put out by the company.

At a public consultation held at Coniston Cold Village Hall last week, Peter Harrison, from Energiekontor, said the company had studied carefully the conclusion of the Government inspector and had returned with a scheme it believed was acceptable.

The inspector, in upholding the refusal decision of Craven District Council, said the occupiers of Ash Tree Farm would be blighted by the wind turbines, the closest of which was just 650m away.

In the new scheme, the two closest turbines to the farm have been removed and the nearest is now more than 800m away. The three remaining ones are the same height as before and located in the same position, a short distance from a bridle path, and would still be visible from parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Chris Emmett, spokesman for the Friends of Craven Landscape, said: “Energiekontor had a real chance to engage with the community, but instead chose to put out a brochure so misleading we have passed it to the Advertising Standards Authority. Their public display was no better. The planning appeal should have been the end of it. The findings were very clear – there should be no turbines at Brightenber.”

The company claims that energy produced by the turbines will be up to 7.5MW which will feed into the local distribution network via an underground cable and supply on average up to 3,670 homes in Craven.

The company – if successful – will pay an undisclosed amount to landowner, dairy farmer Robert Metcalfe, and a community fund of up to £22,000 per year will go towards community projects – for which Energiekontor is welcoming suggestions.

Skipton MP Julian Smith has expressed disappointment that the company has returned with a new scheme.

“This application was rejected after much time and money and Energiekontor should seriously consider whether re-submitting their plans is appropriate in such a beautiful part of our country.”