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New fight to halt Brightenber Hill 'Big Ben' wind turbines plan
A BATTLE has resumed to prevent the building of a wind farm which could dominate views from Ribble Valley.
Although the proposed site is just inside Craven District Council's boundary – at Brightenber Hill, near West Marton – the five turbines, each standing 100m high, would be visible from any part of the Ribble Valley which enjoys long distance views towards Yorkshire.
In November, Craven District Council turned down an application from German firm EnergieKontor to build the five turbines, each standing as tall as Big Ben. It followed a determined campaign from protestors, several from Ribble Valley, who banded together as the Friends of Craven's Landscape.
Now, EnergieKontor has lodged an appeal against refusal of planning permission, meaning the battle is on again.
A Planning Inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State, will hold a public inquiry, probably in Skipton. The two main parties are EnergieKontor and Craven District Council, and the Inspector will rule on who else may appear.
The council will fight the appeal on the reasons it gave for refusing the planning application, namely the detrimental impact on landscape, cultural heritage and residential amenity. The FOCL group, which hopes to play a key part in the inquiry, has already prepared a response.
A spokesman for the group said: "We have spoken to an eminent lawyer and I can promise you, we will be very well represented. We understand the Yorkshire Dales National Park will also fight the appeal."
All letters of objection and petitions submitted in relation to the original application will be considered by the inspector, but new objections will also be considered and the closing deadline for additional submissions is August 17th. After considering all the evidence, it will be the Inspector's job to make the final decision.
For more information about the application, the campaign against it, or how to object, visit the FOCL website at: www.focl.org.uk
Alternatively, send an e-mail to: info@FCL2.co.uk or write to: FOCL, PO Box 46, Skipton, BD23 9DA.
>>Wind turbines will be as tall as Big Ben
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Sunday 05 February 2012
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