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Green Party supports windfarm
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a windfarm between Stocksbridge and Penistone in South Yorkshire have gained the backing of Green Party politicians in the area.
Renewable energy firm Evelop has applied to Barnsley Council for permission to build five 400ft wind turbines at Sheephouse Heights, close to the A616 Stocksbridge bypass.
The proposals have been opposed by residents, who have set up the Protect Sheephouse Heights campaign group, as well as MPs and planners from the Peak District National Park Authority, who say the windfarm would be a "visual intrusion" that would harm the landscape and affect the rural economy.
But now Green Party politicians have come out in support of the windfarm, saying it would play an important role in tackling climate change.
Stocksbridge town councillor Dan Lyons said: "Scientists now realise we have less than 10 years to start seriously curbing greenhouse gas emissions if we are to prevent a rapid rise in world temperature, which would trigger runaway climate change.
"This is an urgent situation. Our community must grasp the bigger picture and play our part in producing clean energy.
"These efficient turbines could produce electricity for 9,000 homes, roughly equivalent to a town the size of Stocksbridge. "The site at Sheephouse Heights is far from pristine, untouched nature and already contains several large pylons and masts.
"Far from being an eyesore, I hope these slim, elegant structures will turn out to be a famous Stocksbridge landmark and a beacon of hope and forward-thinking." Coun Lyons added: "In the future, Stocksbridge folk will be able to look at their grandchildren and say 'yes, we did something, we didn't just bury our heads in the sand and betray our children and future generations'."
Leader of the Green Party on Sheffield Council, Coun Jillian Creasy, said that Sheffield Council should support the planning application.
Although it is Barnsley Council that will make the decision, Sheffield Council has also been asked to comment.
Coun Creasy said: "The Lib Dem leader, Nick Clegg MP, has called for a massive expansion in renewable energy and backed the Greenpeace call for green jobs, yet in Sheffield the Lib Dem administration voted against the Greens' call to support a windfarm at Sheephouse Heights."
Campaigners from the Protect Sheephouse Heights pressure group say they are not opposed to windfarms in general, but the turbines in question would create both visual and noise pollution.
Chairman of the group David Weldon said: "The group is against this particular siting of five turbines, which are 123m or 400ft tall.
"That's twice the height of a normal electricity pylon, with three pylon-sized blades revolving around it.
"The noise problem has been improved massively since turbines first came out, but it occurs in these low-level frequencies that creates a sort of constant low-level boom.
"In the normal course of driving your car or moving your lawn you wouldn't hear it, but the problem is when you're trying to get to sleep.
"In terms of the visual impact, this is a Green Belt area that is overlooked by the Peak District National Park.
"There are other sites that would be less intrusive to people's way of life.
"The developer says the turbines are of minimal visual impact but, if they really are of minimal impact, why not build them in the Peak Park? It's because, in reality, they're an intrusion."
The planning application for the turbines is to go before Barnsley Council's planning board this summer.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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