CAMPAIGNERS last night welcomed a freeze on new wind turbines following safety concerns.

Kirklees Council yesterday suspended planning applications for a type of windmill manufactured by Brighouse firm Evoco Energy.

The move came after high winds ripped blades from the company’s turbines in Hepworth and Upper Cumberworth earlier this month.

Kirklees leader Clr Mehboob Khan said yesterday: “As a responsible council we take these incidents very seriously. No more applications for this model of turbine will be considered until we know the outcome of the manufacturer’s rigorous safety checks.”

The Labour man made the announcement following a series of incidents this month involving 10-kilowatt Evoco turbines, including:

A windmill was ripped apart by gale force winds at Upper Woodroyd Barn in Hepworth. A blade on the Evoco-built turbine was thrown across the road by huge gusts

Identical models at Far Mount Farm and Drake Hill Farm in Upper Cumberworth were also damaged in the high winds during the first week of the New Year.