Latest news with #StopCalderdaleWindFarm
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Plan for England's largest wind farm at Walshaw Moor 'scaled back'
Plans for the largest onshore wind farm in England have been scaled back by a Energy Park said it would apply for permission to build 41 turbines instead of the 65 originally planned on land near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire.A consultation period has now begun and people have been invited to submit their views on the project over the next six weeks.A spokesperson for the company said it had also "removed the solar panel element" from the revised designs. The company first revealed the plans in 2023 and said the scheme would generate enough electricity to power more than 286,000 homes a environmental campaigners have said the development would disturb peat bogs on Walshaw Moor and release carbon into the firm's spokesperson said: "We're pleased to be able share our updated proposals for Walshaw Moor and look forward to hearing from local people about our ambitions."Our latest plan includes up to 41 turbines - a reduction from 65. We have also removed the solar panel element from the design."Calderdale Energy Park presents a key opportunity to support the government's target to achieve at least 95% of low carbon energy generation by 2030." 'Suitable sites' Large parts of Walshaw Moor are blanket bog and protected Rout, from campaign group Stop Calderdale Wind Farm, said: "Building wind farms on protected peatland, which is a natural carbon sink, is counterproductive - it will worsen the climate and nature crisis by releasing CO2."In addition to the turbines, this site would incorporate 22 miles (35 km) of access roads and a substation."She said the group feared the plans would lead to increased risk of flooding at Hebden Bridge and nearby towns."There are plenty of other suitable sites for wind farms, as identified in a report by the RSPB," she said."We are calling for government-led action to plan where this technology goes."The application to build the wind farm will be decided by the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband MP, after the site was designated a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).It means that although Calderdale Council can be consulted, councillors will not have the final say on whether the project the largest wind farm in England is at Keadby in Lincolnshire, where there are 34 largest in the UK is at Whitelee near Glasgow with 215 turbines. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MP seeks 'united voice' against windfarm plan
A West Yorkshire MP has written to other members of parliament calling for a cross-party "united voice" against proposals for a wind farm in Calderdale which would be England's biggest. Robbie Moore, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, said he was concerned by Calder Wind Farm Ltd's plans for a 65-turbine wind farm on about 5,680 acres (2,300 hectares) of land at Walshaw Moor, above Hebden Bridge. Moore said he believed that if the project was approved, it would have "huge negative impacts" across the region. Calder Wind Farm Ltd argued that the development would bring benefits and it had submitted a scoping report to Calderdale Council to help identify the significant effects it might have. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Moore had written to Labour MPs Josh Fenton-Glynn (Calder Valley), Kate Dearden (Halifax), Oliver Ryan (Burnley) and Jonathan Hinder (Pendle and Clitheroe) as well as fellow Conservative MP Sir Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon). They were invited by Moore to join a cross-party caucus to "provide a united voice in Parliament against the development". In his letter, Moore outlined his concerns about the plans, including the disruption of protected peatland which acted as a natural carbon store and flood defence; the threat to endangered bird species; issues around transportation of materials to the site; and potential damage to the cultural heritage of the area known as Bronte Country. He also highlighted the potential impact on tourism and local businesses, adding that he hoped the MPs would support the Stop Calderdale Wind Farm campaign. "These proposals are completely inappropriate for Walshaw Moor," he wrote. "We now know the Walshaw Moor Wind farm has the potential to completely devastate crucial carbon stores, creating lasting environmental damage and putting communities in the Calder and Worth Valleys at greater risk of flooding. "While I support efforts to expand energy, we must ensure developments are in the right places and do not cause more harm than good." Calder Wind Farm Ltd said the proposed development would bring benefits, not least in terms of renewable energy. If constructed, it could generate enough renewable energy to power up to 286,491 homes per year, according to the firm. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Opposition over England's biggest wind farm plan England's biggest wind farm plan unveiled Wind is main source of electricity for first time Calderdale Wind Stop Calderdale Wind Farm Calderdale Council Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
MP seeks 'united voice' against Calderdale wind farm plan
A West Yorkshire MP has written to other members of parliament calling for a cross-party "united voice" against proposals for a wind farm in Calderdale which would be England's Moore, Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, said he was concerned by Calder Wind Farm Ltd's plans for a 65-turbine wind farm on about 5,680 acres (2,300 hectares) of land at Walshaw Moor, above Hebden said he believed that if the project was approved, it would have "huge negative impacts" across the Wind Farm Ltd argued that the development would bring benefits and it had submitted a scoping report to Calderdale Council to help identify the significant effects it might have. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Moore had written to Labour MPs Josh Fenton-Glynn (Calder Valley), Kate Dearden (Halifax), Oliver Ryan (Burnley) and Jonathan Hinder (Pendle and Clitheroe) as well as fellow Conservative MP Sir Julian Smith (Skipton and Ripon).They were invited by Moore to join a cross-party caucus to "provide a united voice in Parliament against the development". 'Completely inappropriate' In his letter, Moore outlined his concerns about the plans, including the disruption of protected peatland which acted as a natural carbon store and flood defence; the threat to endangered bird species; issues around transportation of materials to the site; and potential damage to the cultural heritage of the area known as Bronte also highlighted the potential impact on tourism and local businesses, adding that he hoped the MPs would support the Stop Calderdale Wind Farm campaign."These proposals are completely inappropriate for Walshaw Moor," he wrote."We now know the Walshaw Moor Wind farm has the potential to completely devastate crucial carbon stores, creating lasting environmental damage and putting communities in the Calder and Worth Valleys at greater risk of flooding."While I support efforts to expand energy, we must ensure developments are in the right places and do not cause more harm than good."Calder Wind Farm Ltd said the proposed development would bring benefits, not least in terms of renewable constructed, it could generate enough renewable energy to power up to 286,491 homes per year, according to the to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
