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Wind turbine bid by farmer turned down
A FARMER who wanted to install a wind turbine to generate his own power and prevent carbon emissions has had his planning application refused by members of the North York Moors National Park planning committee.
John Readman, of Ugthorpe, told the planning committee he had high energy costs especially at harvest time when he uses grain driers. He also uses a considerable amount of electricity for welding, security lighting, a rolling mill and a grinding machine.
He applied for permission to install a wind turbine with a 12 metre tower which would have an overall height, including the blades, of 16.5 metres behind his farmhouse in a field away from the road .
The turbine would produce sufficient electricity for all his needs and save 12.9 tons of carbon emissions. Mr Readman told the planners he wanted to help the environment and slow down global warming. No other means of producing power for his machinery were available to him as there is no fast flowing river near his property. But planning officers said the open nature of the site, although making it suitable for a wind turbine, meant the structure would be an obtrusive and alien feature on the landscape and visible from many vantage points.
They pointed out that planning policy in the national park seeks to address a balance between support for renewable energy projects and protection of its special qualities. Support would be given to small scale installations to meet local needs where they comply with the policy’s criteria.
Some weeks ago, a farmer at Scaling Dam was given permission for an 80 feet high wind turbine. A national park spokesman said it was the first of its type in the park and although suitable for its location similar ones may not be in other parts of the park – for example, in the Esk Valley where they need to be much lower.
Earlier in the year, a resident in Westerdale was refused planning permission for a 30 feet high wind turbine.
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Weather for Whitby
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
