‘Delight’ for campaigners as plans for Beckwithshaw wind farm withdrawn

Local residents and campaigners have reacted with delight to the news that the plans for six 126 metre wind turbines will not go ahead.

Campaigners argued that the wind farm would have been just 400m from the boundary of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural beauty and just 4.km from Otley.

Gerry Smith, spokesman for the Save the Dales campaign group said the news was a huge relief and credited the stregnth of ‘public feeling’ for its withdrawl.

He said: “The initial intentions of 42 massive turbines next to the Nidderdale AONB seemed inconceivable but it was very real and could well have happened.

“All the developers clearly believed that a precedent had been set by the existing Knabs Ridge wind farm and that the council would have no choice but to allow this desecration to go ahead.

“No doubt Infinis had been keeping a close eye and took note at theunabated strength of public feeling, the recent refusal of the Tapar application and not least the change in Government sentiment.

“I congratulate Infinis for making the correct decision and throw in the towel”.

In February 2014, Kelda (part of Yorkshire Water) withdrew their plans for two adjoining wind farms totally 24 turbines of up to 125m high, on Haverah Park and Penny Pot Lane, citing the strength of public feeling as the reason.

In March 2015, Tapar’s planning application for 4 x 110m turbines was unanimously rejected by Harrogate Borough Council’s planning committee.

The withdrawl of the plans follows the news that a planning application for two 48m turbines near Almscliffe Crafg had been submitted.