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Village ready for battle against 410ft wind turbines scheme
Residents attack energy project Robert Sutcliffe OPPOSITION is growing to plans for Britain's largest wind turbines near a tiny hamlet in a picturesque part of Yorkshire.
The two 125-metre (410ft) turbines in Denby Dale would supply energy to thousands of homes if the application is approved by Kirklees Council's planning committee.
But plans to house the turbines at Pool Hill, near Kitchenroyd, have been fiercely attacked by residents.
Over the weekend more than 3,000 leaflets were delivered by opponents, and Kirklees Council said 85 objections had been received in just two days.
Lynda Lawrence, 59, of Wakefield Road, Denby Dale, who has lived in the area for more than 40 years and whose home is 400 metres from the proposed development, said: "Turbines make constant noise, both high and low frequency. These turbines would each produce 104 decibels, like a pair of motorbikes in the sky, day and night.
''These turbines would be visually overwhelming, much bigger than those at Ingbirchworth, just three miles away. They would be the biggest onshore turbines in the country.
''They would completely dominate the whole area and would produce shadowing, oscillating sunlight between the blades as well as flashing effects caused by reflected light.
''In all respects, the proposed turbines are bad news for Denby Dale and for all the surrounding villages. There is no need for us to have these monsters inflicted upon us. If a place as inappropriate for turbines as Pool Hill is approved, nowhere is safe.''
The chairman of Denby Dale Parish Council, Tony Barlow, said he was totally opposed to the plans. He said: ''We are holding a vote tonight on this planning application before it goes to Kirklees Council and it is likely to be very tight. I am totally against them on the grounds of visual amenity, health and aesthetics.
''I feel they are inappropriate and will dominate the village. There has been a lot of reaction and the impression I get is that most people are against it.''
Kirklees councillor Jim Dodds, (Con, Denby Dale), said: ''I am very hopeful it will be dropped. My principal objection is that they will cause visual pollution and their close proximity to houses. The hamlet of Kitchenroyd is just 700 metres away.''
He said he expected the council to make its decision sometime in December.
The turbines would be built by Danish engineering company Alpha Wind Energy. No one from the firm was available for comment yesterday.
However, architect Tony Mallilieu has said that two years had been spent on the plans and they would comply with every guideline in Europe and Britain.
A public meeting will be held on October 17 at Scissett WMC at 7pm.
robert.sutcliffe@ypn.co.uk
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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