OVENDEN WIND FARM REPOWER
THREATENS BRONTË MOORS
E.On, trading as Yorkshire Wind Power Ltd, have now
submitted an application for planning permission to repower Ovenden Moor Wind
Farm. The 23 turbines currently in
use and visible from parts of Haworth and the moorlands will, if the
application succeeds, be replaced by nine structures 115m high. At such a height they would,
potentially, be visible from as far afield as Harrogate, Wetherby and
Tadcaster, places over 35km distant.
Seen from Top Withens, they would appear enormous, and would dominate
the whole landscape.
In accordance with the Brontë Society’s heritage and
conservation policy, an objection to the application has been submitted to
Calderdale Council, the full text of which is given below.
Planning & Regeneration
Services
Calderdale Council
Town Hall
Halifax
West Yorkshire
HX1 1UJ
16th August 2012
Dear Sirs,
re: Planning application 12/00955/WDF
Yorkshire Wind Power Ltd
Repowering of wind farm
including construction and operation of nine wind
turbines (up to 115m to blade
tip), construction of access tracks, crane
hardstanding, temporary
construction compound, underground cabling to
network, new control building
with substation and anemometer, to replace
existing twenty three wind
turbines, substation, control building and
anemometer masts.
Ovenden Moor Wind Farm Cold
Edge Road Wainstalls Halifax Calderdale
The Brontë Society wishes to
state its strong objection to the above proposal on the following grounds:-
1)
The damaging impact of the wind turbines
on the character of the Worth Valley watershed, a culturally and historically
unique landscape.
2)
The adverse effect on tourism and the
local economy.
The Worth Valley watershed
includes those stretches of moorland and specific locations which are
associated with the Brontë family and most particularly with the writings of
Emily Brontë. They are culturally
and historically unique and they form an internationally recognised part of
England’s heritage. They also
include sections of The Brontë Way and The Pennine Way. The turbines currently in operation at
Ovenden Moor are visible from many parts of the watershed and their visual
impact is unfortunate and inappropriate.
However, the current proposal would introduce to the skyline man-made
structures of such increased size that they could, potentially, be seen from as
far away as Harrogate and Tadcaster.
Seen from all areas of the watershed moorlands they would appear as
overwhelming features in the landscape and would diminish the perception of its
scale and remoteness. In an empty
landscape even small turbines have a dominating effect and the movement of the
blades draws the eye, making them impossible to ignore. The far greater size of the proposed
turbines would have a defining and hugely detrimental influence upon the
character of the landscape and its setting. The validity of this objection takes into account the
judgement made by Mrs Justice Lang in May, 2012 in a case brought by SLP Energy
regarding Hemsby, Norfork. The
judgement states that “concern about harm to the landscape was on balance more
important that the national need for renewable energy”.
The area known as Brontë
Country, which includes Haworth and its associated moorlands, was formerly a
region whose economy was based mainly upon small-scale agriculture and
textiles. Since the demise of the
textile industry the area has become increasingly reliant on the tourism
generated by its literary and heritage associations. The Brontës and their works have, over the last 160 years,
inspired worldwide interest which has, more recently, been fuelled by film and
television adaptations of their lives and their novels. This interest has resulted in a flow of
visitors to Haworth not merely from Britain but from all parts of the
world. They come to see for
themselves something of the village and the countryside in which the Brontës
lived and which influenced their work.
They come to see open, empty moorlands unaffected by dominant
structures. Any development which
affects the foundations of this literary tourism inevitably affects the local
economy.
The current, inappropriate presence of wind turbines is known
to have an adverse effect upon the visitor experience. A letter to the Daily Telegraph in May
2012, stated “Sadly, anyone who now goes on the Brontë tourist trail will be
greeted by wind turbines. Brontë
Country is no longer worth visiting.” (S. Mowbray) The far greater impact of the current proposal has the
potential to cause a decline in visitor numbers leading to decreased incomes
from businesses which rely on this tourism and, indeed, the failure of
businesses. Claims that the
repowering of Ovenden Moor wind farm will provide local jobs are unfounded as
once the construction (by specialist teams) is complete, turbines are remotely
monitored, and maintained by very few individuals. Any jobs created would be minimal and mainly temporary. The positive impact on the local
economy would be negligible and of very little importance compared with the
negative effect the proposal would have upon the tourist industry.
The Brontë Society submits
that the pre-existence of turbines at Ovenden Moor should have no bearing on
the decision of the Planning Committee in respect of the current proposal, and
reiterates that, because of its scale and location, the repowering would result
in material harm to the character and appearance of the Worth Valley watershed
and to the local economy, such harm far outweighing any supposed benefits.
As a charity it
is not appropriate for us to mount a petition nor, in this case, would that be
helpful as no matter how many signatures are collected, it would count only as
a single objection. We would ask
that, if you wish to support the Society in this, you send your comments to
Calderdale Council by post, email or online as follows, in all cases quoting
planning application 12/00955/WDF.
The consultation period, during which comments will be accepted, ends on
7th September.
By post:
Planning & Regeneration Services
Calderdale Council
Town Hall
Halifax
West Yorkshire
HX1 1UJ
By email:
Online:
In order to comment online you must register and log in
first. Please ignore any notice on
the website to the effect that comments are not being accepted at this
time. Calderdale Council have
given an assurance that this is not the case.
