THREE leaders of Reform-led councils in West Yorkshire and Lancashire are united in their opposition to a giant windfarm which a company hopes to build on Calderdale moorland.
Calderdale Energy Park (CEP) plans to put 34 giant wind turbines on Walshaw Moor, which is located between Hebden Bridge and Haworth, the village associated with the Bronte sisters.
The company says the turbines will generate enough low carbon electricity to power 198,000 homes a year.
But the proposals have met with strong resistance from campaigners concerned about potential damage to peatland and loss of moorland habitat which is home to birds.
The Government’s Energy Secretary – currently Miatta Fahnbulleh – will ultimately decide whether or not this controversial application is given the green light.
Calderdale Energy Park will not only impact Calderdale itself, where it would be built, but neighbouring Bradford – affecting the Bronte heritage – and across the border in Lancashire, where the route to bring stone to build access roads will come.
Councillors Dan Sutherland, the leader of Calderdale Council, Stephen Place, leader of Bradford Council, and Stephen Atkinson, leader of Lancashire County Council, met at Halifax Town Hall to discuss and set out their concerns.
By responding to the Calderdale Energy Park proposal collectively, they hope to amplify concerns about the plans – which have also been made by campaigners and residents – not just regionally but nationally.
Great Edge above Widdop Reservoir, one of the moorland areas which could be affected by the turbine plan. Picture: Save Walshaw Moor campaign group
(Image: submitted)
Coun Sutherland said the leaders wanted to raise the profile of the issue.
“So far it hasn’t had the national attention a project of this significance should have,” he said.
Also attending the meeting were other Reform group leaders from other authorities, including Rochdale, whose areas will also be affected.
Coun Sutherland said the aim was to set out their top concerns and make people aware of the sheer scale of the project, each turbine 200 metres high, standing higher than Blackpool Tower.
He said the leaders had agreed a number of concerns.
These include the impact the windfarm would have on local wildlife including vital peatland, and on the Special Protection Area and Special Area of Conservation status to which the moorland was subject.
The potential for water run-off from the site was also a major issue – Calderdale is an area which has suffered serious flooding over the last 20 years.
Scale of heavy goods vehicles (HGV) transits which would be necessary to transport 614,000 tonnes of stone needed for the roads serving the site would see considerable impact on local highways, potentially causing delays and damage, said Coun Sutherland.
Another factor causing alarm was the impact on the heritage associated with the moorland.
“The Brontes’ work is of global significance,” said Coun Sutherland.
The final outcome might come down to the Bronte moors – or the Calderdale Energy Park, he said.
“We will continue to work collectively to address concerns,” said Coun Sutherland.
Coun Atkinson said for Lancashire concerns were predominantly around the access route, which was close to homes in places.
“There will be 140 heavy goods vehicles travelling on that route every day.
“There is real concern about how that will impact on the foundations of the houses,” he said.
In context, Coun Atkinson claimed there are 15 buildings in the UK over 200 metres high – Walshaw Moor would see 34 of them in one place.
Coun Place said the project had “the potential for a most catastrophic effect on the Bradford moors, Haworth itself and the picturesque village of Oxenhope.”
“It makes no sense,” he said.
Councils have produced responses to the consultation, and the leaders recognised too the importance of the detailed work being done by local campaign groups, said Coun Sutherland.
This was leaders in local government in their area adding their weight to concerns which were being raised, he said.
Coun Place said: “We don’t think it’s been widely enough known in the Bradford area, which is why we’re keen to get involved with this.
“It’s just something we have got to make the public aware of.
“The Brontes’ works are cherished and protected peatland could be severely affected,” he said.