OVER 50 residents turned out in Sunniside to attend a meeting to discuss the proposals to erect more wind turbines in the village precinct at High Hedleyhope Farm High Hedleyhope Farm Road East Hedleyhope.
A warm welcome, cup of tea and biscuits were offered to every one who walked through the door of the well-used Community Centre to take part in a discussion and learn more about the planning application to Durham County Council. The meeting was opened by David, the Chairman of the Community Association, who, with the aid of a power point presentation, ably and knowledgeably explained the crux of the matter.
To begin with he explained that planning permission had already been granted for an explanatory ‘tower’, 100m tall, to be erected to measure the wind speed. Permission was granted the day after it was submitted to the Planning department at County Hall. David outlined the main concerns attached to the planning application that is now on the council’s planning portal (DM/23/03047/FPA). The application is for seven wind turbines, up to 149.9m in height (almost the height of Blackpool Tower), along with associated infrastructure including crane pads, access track, electrical housing, cabling, and a modified site entrance.
He listed those concerns – increased size and height of the turbines, proximity to the village, the affect on the aesthetics of the village, noise pollution, impact on wildlife, the affect on property values and health concerns. David had clearly spent a lot of time in a short space since the planning application went live, studying and trying to understand the colossal file of pages and just what they mean to the local people in simple language. He pointed out that the proposed new turbines would be twice the size of the existing six that are in the vicinity of Moss Wood and can be sign for miles, so high, in fact, that Newcastle airport and the RAF had been consulted and had no qualms about accepting it.
Along with the turbines, there is a proposal for the necessary sub station to be built too. The decommissioning of the existing turbines has already been agreed, they only have a certain lifetime, which is expected to be no more than 25 years. David used his presentation to good effect when he mused over ‘re-powering’, which in planning terms, means replacing the old with something very similar. How can it be something similar if it is twice the size? Akin to having planning permission for a ‘lean-too’ on his house and then building a four-storey extension. It was a vivid and clever analogy.
During the discussion after David’s knowledgeable and concise presentation, some in the audience with insights into the wind turbine industry explained that the Tow Law wind farm had its problems for the local community but it actually produced too much electricity to cater for local need. Some of the turbines are deliberately switched off because the infrastructure cant cope with the amount generated. The question was – ‘so, why do we need more’? If the electricity generated was needed elsewhere, that would involve a lot more infrastructure to take it away from Sunniside to parts of the country with larger populations who are in need. Why, if that is the case, is it necessary to have more turbines and especially so high?
The planning application made by ‘Clean Earth’ comprises 200 documents but can be described thus: ‘Seven wind turbines, up to 149.9m in height, along with associated infrastructure including crane pads, access track, electrical housing, cabling, and a modified site entrance’.
The discussion continued for around an hour with the majority of folk there being against the application with one specific dissenter who spoke in favour. There were some excellent points raised throughout. County Councillor Adrian Schulman was also in attendance and listening carefully to the discussion. He addressed the meeting briefly, saying he would ‘call the application in to have it heard in public at a planning meeting’.
To read the planning application, which was submitted in 2023 according to the on-line planning portal on Durham County Council’s website, go to: DM/23/03047/FPA | Seven wind turbines, up to 149.9m in height, along with associated infrastructure including crane pads, access track, electrical housing, cabling, and a modified site entrance | Wind Farm High Hedleyhope Farm High Hedleyhope Farm Road East Hedleyhope DL13 4PR
Well done to Michael, David, Liz and Claire from the Community Association for their hard work in bringing this to residents in such a short time. An excellent example of community cohesion.
