Turbine plan anger
THE blades of a wind turbine planned for Birstall could be seen from Barnsley, councillors say.
Mars Complementary Pet Care Limited has applied for planning permission to install the 126.5m turbine at its premises in Oakwell Way, off Gelderd Road.
But ward councillors for Birstall and Birkenshaw say the structure will be double the height of an electricity pylon and will have a detrimental impact on the area.
Coun Liz Smaje said she was worried particularly about the impact it would have on nearby Fieldhead Estate, which is currently undergoing an 11m regeneration.
Speaking at a Howden Clough Tenants’ and Residents’ Association meeting, she said: “This turbine will be able to be seen from Barnsley.
“We are objecting to it because it is close to industrial and residential premises and will have a visual impact on Birstall and Birkenshaw.”
Coun Smaje (Con) added there was also concern about the noise made by the turbine, which would add to the noise currently created by the nearby motorway, and about the vibration caused by the blades’ rotation.
“We are not against green initiatives, but we are against something so tall in the area. It’s completely out of character,” she said.
In its planning application to Kirklees Council, Mars Complementary Pet Care Limited said as far as possible the turbine had been designed to minimise the effect to communities and the environment.
The application said: “In landscape and visual terms, the landscape can accommodate a turbine of this size without causing unnecessary impact on the physical character of the area.”
Mars Complementary Pet Care Limited would use 80 per cent of the energy generated and would sell the remaining 20 per cent to the National Grid.
A public consultation on the application ends on Monday.
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Weather for Batley
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
