David Davis congratulates Spaldington parish council on successful appeal against wind turbines

As reported in the Hull Daily Mail:
Appeal to build six turbines is knocked back

Campaigners against a proposed East Yorkshire wind farm are celebrating after an appeal to build six turbines near Spaldington was refused.

RWE Innogy UK’s appeal to build the wind turbines at Welham Bridge has been refused by the Secretary of State Eric Pickles.

Spaldington parish councillor Rob Hare said: “The Secretary of State has agreed with us that there is no room for any more wind farms in this area.

“This not only stops the six turbines of the River Valley wind farm, but also presents a significant deterrent to other developers submitting applications for any more large turbines in this area.

“We have shown that local opinion is right – enough means enough.”

Mr Pickle’s decision comes following a public inquiry into the River Valley wind farm held in Goole in May.

East Riding Council had originally refused the company’s application to build six, 128m turbines to the north west of Welham Bridge with three turbines to the south of the River Foulness, and three more to the north, in December, last year.

Spaldington Parish Council clerk Wendy McKay told the Mail the Secretary of State’s decision has a significance far beyond Spaldington.

She said: “It sets a precedent such that other communities facing excessive wind turbine development in the East Riding and beyond now have a case to refer to.

“We have established where the line should be drawn.”

Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis joined campaigners in their fight against RWE Innogy UK plans for the River Valley wind farm. Mr Davis said: “This government has ensured far more weight in the appeals process is now being given to local opinion and the valid objections of local people.

“Fighting appeals is no longer a futile exercise or waste of money; it is vital to protect people’s lives, their homes, the countryside in which they chose to live.

“Here in the East Riding we already have a vast number of wind turbines; the highest density in England.

“We’ve made our contribution to renewable energy. It is time for the relentless march of the wind turbines to come to an end and I congratulate Spaldington Parish Council on this achievement.”

Chairman of Spaldington Parish Council Kath Westin said: “I would like to thank all those in Spaldington and the surrounding area who have supported us.

“The advocate and expert witnesses who we engaged to present the best possible case have been paid for entirely by donations; there has been no cost to parish funds.

“I am so pleased we can now let people know their investment has been worthwhile.

“This decision will actually save the parish money in future.

“We know all too well from the problems being caused by the development of Spaldington Airfield wind farm, the huge burden which is imposed when a wind farm is consented in the parish.”

As reported in the Goole Times:

Turbine Plan Rejected

The appeal to build a six turbine wind farm near Spaldington has been rejected, it has been revealed.

Spaldington Parish Council and local residents celebrated the announcement on Saturday, October 18, that the appeal by energy giant RWE Innogy UK for six wind turbines to be built at Welham Bridge has been refused.

The decision was made by the Secretary of State, Eric Pickles, following the recommendation of Planning Inspector John Woolcock, who held a Public Inquiry in Goole in May.

ERYC Howdenshire Ward Councillor Victoria Aitken, who spoke passionately at the Inquiry in support of Spaldington Parish Council’s case, said: “I’m so please that all the time and effort with Rob Hare, Vice Chair of Spaldington Parish Council, and the Clerk Wendy McKay put into ensuring that the Parish Council presented the best possible case has been worthwhile. The Parish Council identified the key issues, formulated an objection based on valid planning reasons and defended these reasons at the Inquiry.

“They were instrumental in ensuring that the application was originally refused by the Councillors on the East Riding of Yorkshire Planning Committee, contrary to the planning officer’s recommendation. The decision of my fellow members serving on the Planning Committee has now been proved correct.”

In the resultant report following the public inquiry, the Secretary of State agrees with the Planning Inspector’s thoughts that the turbines would have an adverse affect on the appearance of the surrounding landscape, along with harming the nearby heritage assets of the area. The report reads: “The Secretary of State endorses the Inspector’s conclusion that the proposed development would have an adverse effect on landscape character of moderate significance, which would cumulatively with other consented and proposed turbines increase to moderate/major significance… Like the Inspector, the Secretary of State is of the view that, given the pattern of wind turbine development in the area, this cumulative effect would be of particular importance.

“The appeal scheme would harm the setting of Howden of the Grade I listed Howden Minster, and impair the ability of observers to understand and appreciate the importance of the Minster in its wider context.

Importantly, the Inspector and the Secretary of State dismissed the appeal because of the effect numerous wind farms could together have on the area, meaning that there is no further scope for new wind farms in the region. Parish Councillor Rob Hare said: “This not only stops the six turbines of the River Valley wind farm, but also presents a significant deterrent to other developers submitting applications for any more large turbines in this area. We have shown that local opinion is right – enough is enough.” {more}

Spaldington Parish Council Clerk Wendy McKay added: “ (The decision) sets a precent such that other communities facing excessive wind turbine development and beyond now have a case to refer to. We have established where the line should be drawn.”

Local MP David Davis, who during his robust defence of the local landscape at the Public Inquiry, had clashed with the barrister representing RWE Innogy, stressed the importance of protecting the landscape in the area: “This government has ensured that far more weight in the appeals process is now being given to local opinion and the valid objections of local people. Fighting appeals is no longer a futile exercise or waste of money; it is vital to protect people’s lives, their homes (and) the countryside in which they chose to live.

“The area is already blighted by 44 existing wind turbines, all within a six mile radius of Spaldington. This number of turbines is already too high, any more would have represented an extremely unfair targeting of the area by the energy companies.

“Here in the East Riding we already have a vast number of wind turbines, the highest density in England. We’ve made out contribution to renewable energy. It is time for the relentless march of the wind turbines to come to an end.”

Chair of Spaldington Parish Council, Kath Westin said: “I would like to thank all those in Spaldington, and the surrounding area who have supported us. The advocate and expert witnesses who we engaged to present the best possible case have been paid for entirely by donations, there has been no cost to parish funds. This decision will actually save the parish money in future. We know all too well from the problems being caused by the development of Spaldington Airfield wind farm, the huge burden which is imposed when a wind farm is consented in the parish.”