Chris Went, Heritage & Conservation Officer, writes:
On Tuesday, 13
November Sally McDonald (Brontë Society Chair) and I met in Halifax to attend the committee meeting
which would decide on the planning application to repower Ovenden Moor
windfarm.
This
repowering, unlike the proposal to erect a wind test mast on Thornton Moor, has
not generated any concerted opposition.
There is no local group dedicated to stopping this development and
although the group which opposes the Thornton Moor proposals was supportive,
with individuals lodging objections with Calderdale Council, Ovenden is not
their battleground. Opposition
from Calderdale residents was patchy and it was surprising that the local
newspaper, the Halifax Courier, carried so few articles about the
development. At the committee
meeting, therefore, Sally and I, as representatives of the Brontë Society,
seemed to represent the largest single aspect of opposition – the impact on
visual amenity – and as a result, Sally agreed to speak for all the objectors
present, including the respresentative of Luddenden Civic Society.
After the
Planning Officer had presented the application, Sally was allowed five minutes
to speak for the objectors.
Although so little time was allowed, Sally put reiterated the objections
of the Brontë Society, and stressed the High Court ruling of Mrs Justice Lang
which said that energy requirements should not take priority over consideration
for the landscape. No questions were
asked, and she was followed by the councillor for Illingworth and Mixenden who
supported the application. Emma
Clark, the agent for Yorkshire Wind Power then spoke for the application. Questions put to her by the panel of
councillors allowed her more than the allotted five minutes to put her views.
Although the
panel members were supposed to debate, this item on the agenda was nothing more
than four of the panel expressing support for the application on the grounds –
contrary to Mrs Justice Lang’s Hemsby ruling - that Calderdale’s need to meet
its green targets was more important than what was considered to be a slight
negative impact on the landscape.
Two councillors did not speak but at the vote, supported the application
so that agreement was unanimous.
Naturally we
are very disappointed with the outcome, but understand that the application may
be called in by the government for review by the Planning Inspectorate. If there is an opportunity to make a
representation to the Secretary of State we shall do so.
1 comment:
The 'Countryfile' programme on television last night was very interesting with its theme of how the countryside has inspired artists, writers and musicians. Any programme with such a theme must include Haworth and the barren, yet beautiful, moorland surrounding it and viewers were not disappointed.
We, who are devotees of the famous family, know that the Brontes, who pushed boundaries and perhaps changed the literary world forever, were inspired by this wild landscape and that their legacy is still living and breathing for this area continues to inspire creativity.
Arthur Butterworth- composer, conductor and trumpet player- was inspired by the shape of the landscape, its inscrutability and its tranquility which he transplanted into sound in his major work for a brass band 'A Dales Suite'.
Ashley Jackson, at the age of sixteen, wrote- 'I want to do with a brush what the Brontes did with a pen'. His love affair with the moors the Brontes knew began then as, realising that there is a controlling force up on the moors, God or mother nature, he has for over fifty years tried to capture what he calls ' mother nature's love letters'.
I bet Emily, at least, would have said a veritable 'Amen' to these sentiments.
A happy new year and thank you for your posts in 2012
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