Visual Impact of wind turbines at Crook Hill

Date published: 22 July 2007

Coronation Power, the London-based company developing wind projects in the UK, including the proposed wind farm at Crook Hill has agreed that wind turbines will cause impacts to the landscapes and to visual amenity in the area around Crook Hill, however, they say that the impact needs to be balanced against the need for renewable energy. Coronation Power is convinced that the benefits of wind farms positively outweigh any drawbacks, particularly in the case of these high wind resource sites.

In a recently released statement Coronation Power said: "Amidst the local arguments against wind farms, sight has been lost of the purpose behind them — to combat the rapid onset of climate change as a result of global warming. Wind energy is the only deliverable clean energy generator capable of immediate deployment. Wind energy is part of a wider future fuel energy mix that is not viewed as a panacea in its own right but as a part of a raft of new technologies capable of supporting the fight against climate change. Wind energy must be developed rapidly and effectively if we are to accept that we must counter the effects of our energy profligate lifestyles which are causing climate change and global warming.

"The current planning application by Coronation Power for the wind farm at Crook Hill, Rochdale is not located where they would have unacceptable impacts on nationally protected landscapes. It is also located on largely degraded, modified hillsides that are radically transformed from their original nature — wooded hillsides and moortops rich in ecological biodiversity. This is no longer the case. The landscapes for these tree wind farms have been deforested, mined, drained, overgrazed, and in some cases degraded through human amenity activities. Do not be under any misapprehension that these are pristine landscapes. We have shaped the way they have become, and we will continue to shape them.

"At least in the cases of the current planning application, we are proposing ecological improvements to offset the impacts of the developments and provide an overall net positive benefit to ecology for the 25 years of operation, which otherwise may not happen. And when no longer required, as other technologies substitute onshore wind, the wind farms can be removed whilst retaining the ecological improvements delivered over the lifetime of the wind farms. No above ground features will remain after decommissioning. Landscapes will revert back to their current condition. No change will be noticeable after decommissioning. Yet wind energy will have played its part in helping the region make a contribution to climate change initiatives."

Vickram Mirchandani, Managing Director of Coronation Power, is asking people in the areas of the wind farms: "to consider reasonably how the hillsides around them are an important resource in tackling climate change through wind power generation, and that we all have a responsibility to commit to action that will help secure the futures of our children and beyond. Supporting the local wind farm proposal will send the message to future generations that we are trying to do something about the problem, that we are not being idle and self interested."

On the matter of landscape and visual amenity impacts, Mr Mirchandani wants to point out that the findings of the EIA Consultants and those of Julie Martin Associates coincide, but that the interpretation of "acceptability" is where disagreement lies. Some people dislike turbines, others like them. It is a matter of individual preference. Yet Mr Mirchandani asks: "Please let us put our preferences aside and accept that clean energy generation is needed now, particularly if the 2010 sub regional targets for renewable energy are to be met. We have seen the possible results of climate change in Yorkshire and Humberside recently, this is something we are looking to prevent from happening in the future."

Currently, Coronation Power is preparing post submission responses to the local planning authority on material planning matters raised by consultees and the public in the review of the planning applications. These should be submitted shortly, following which there will be another consultation period before a decision is made by the relevant committees.