Windfarm developer’s apology as wrong email address given to public for comments

Calder Energy Park says it has received more than 1,000 submissions about its plans for 34 wind turbines on the Lancashire and Yorkshire border. But some emails sent by the public before June 5 may not have been received because they went to the wrong email address.

The developers have now extended the consultation period on the project at Walshaw Moor, between Colne and Hebden Bridge, to give communities more time to comment on the scheme.

It comes as Pendle councillors were told that Manchester Airport and the Ministry of Defence have objected to the plan over aircraft radar concerns.

The wind farm application is classed as ‘nationally significant’ and will be decided by the government later this year. As part of this, councils and communities are being asked their views.

In Pendle, some people fear ‘traffic mayhem’ for three years around Colne, because of ideas to transport turbine parts on lorries along the M65, the C682 School Lane and Lancashire Moor Road. Other concerns include the potential impact on Pennine hill landscapes and tourism.

Speaking at Pendle Council’s Colne area committee, Conservative David Cockburn Price said: “Public consultation has been extended to July 8 because there was an error with an email address in some information. So now, more people can put in their comments.

“Pendle Council has submitted its own comments and so is Colne Town Council. And a meeting is also being planned at Colne Town Hall for representatives of all the different town and parish councils effected across Pendle, Calderdale and Bradford. They will look at issues such as transport plans and local roads.”

Neil Watson, Pendle’s head of planning, said: “The Ministry of Defence has objected to the plan regarding Warton airfield in Lancashire. And two other air authorities including Manchester Airport have objected with concerns about radar interference.”

He added: “Calderdale and Bradford councils have issued their comments too. They have more staff and experts than Pendle Council, so it’s worth looking at their responses in detail.”

Conservative Sarah Cockburn Price asked Pendle Council to publish its response, saying: “A lot of residents will use this extra time to send their responses and the council’s view may be helpful.”

Mr Watson said he would put it on the council’s website and it is open, public information.

Calderdale Wind Farm Ltd is behind the Walshaw Moor plan and says the turbines could power 198,000 homes with cleaner energy. The project is sponsored by NextGen Infra, a global investment group linked to Al Gihaz Holdings.

A Calderdale Energy Park spokesperson said over 1,000 responses had been received so far, through paper and on-line feedback forms, emails and letters.

They added: “Some consultation materials included an incorrect email address. In response, we have written to consultees to provide additional time for anybody who submitted their response to the incorrect email address before June 5 to resubmit. We apologise for the inconvenience and trust the additional time will enable everybody who has shown an interest to participate.”

For clarity, the wrong email address had a ‘.com’ ending. The correct contact details are:

Email: [email protected] Website: www.calderdaleenergypark.co.uk//have-your-say/ Post: FREEPOST Calderdale Energy Park

The developers say Walshaw Moor has ‘immense wind potential’, space for a large number of turbines and is relatively remote. It also has good access to main ports to transport turbine blades and is close to electricity grid connections.

Access routes have been refined to limit any effects on sensitive habitats, heritage features and local roads, they say. And they plan to work in detail with Lancashire County Council on traffic, if approval is given by the government, and have also considered Trawden and other rural locations.