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December 2012
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Call for an end to wind turbines in the Holme Valley By Sandie Marshall COUNCILLORS are calling for an end to wind turbines in the Holme Valley. They say they are inefficient, unsafe and unpopular. “Enough is enough,” says Holme Valley South conservative councillor Donald Firth. “They are going up everywhere and they are an eyesore. Some are blowing down and those that are working are only 23-28 per cent efficient. People need to understand they are not all they are cracked up to be.” Coun Firth says he and fellow councillors Nigel Patrick and Ken Sims are spending huge amounts of time trying to help people whose turbines are faulty or have been damaged by high winds, plus further time dealing with objections to new turbines being erected. They are currently trying to secure a meeting with government Energy
Minister John Hayes to raise their concerns. Mr Hayes recently ruffled feathers at Westminster when he challenged government support for onshore wind farms. Last month around 120 owners of turbines supplied by Brighouse company Evoco were told to shut their machines down because of safety fears. The company’s warning followed its own investigation into cases including one in Hepworth earlier this year when a huge turbine blade detached in high winds and crashed to the ground. Coun. Firth says it’s now time for Kirklees to follow the example of other UK beauty spots including the Peak District and Lake District in banning wind turbines from its high places altogether. “At the very least we need better regulations and planning guidance,” he said. Currently an average of two or
three new planning applications per month are submitted for wind turbines in the Holme Valley. Generally, councils look on applications sympathetically because of their commitment to green forms of energy although they remain unpopular with people living around them. In November, planning permission was granted for a 24.6m turbine at Shaley Farm, Sandy Gate, Scholes, despite nine letters of objection from people nearby. New ‘monster’ 100m turbines which are currently being erected at the Crow Edge wind farm above the Holme Valley are clearly visible from Hade Edge. Resident Chris Giles told The Review: “I’m no NIMBY and I’m all for renewables but it doesn’t seem long until this whole Hepworth, Hade Edge, Dunford Bridge area will become one big wind farm. “I like the view from my kitchen window but it keeps changing!”
We have five hardback copies of Netherthong author Annabel Pitcher's new book to give away. For a chance to win one just answer the following question: What is the title of Annabel’s first novel? Send your answer with your name, address and telephone number to: news@holmevalleyreview.co.uk before December 21. The winners will be drawn at random from all correct answers received and prizes posted out after January 3. I Annabel, pictured above, has a second novel published in the New Year: Full story, Page 6.