A FAMILY has been granted permission to build a wind turbine on their farm, despite sparking anger from their neighbours.
Kirklees councillors were yesterday split seven votes to seven on whether to approve the Fairbank family’s plan to erect a 34.2m turbine at Mount Pleasant Farm, Barkisland.
But the proposal was passed by the narrowest of margins when chairman of the planning committee, Clr Cliff Preest, made his casting vote in favour of the plan.
The plan could generate between 100,000kWh and 250,000kWh each year for the farm and the National Grid.
But neighbours expressed concern about the noise and the visual impact of the turbine.
One Scammonden resident, Don Bennett, criticised the proposal as a ‘plan to deliver a cash return’.
Mr Bennett said: “Many of us support renewable energy but a more suitable location must be available.”
But, recommending the plan’s approval, council officers said that while the area was green belt land there were already similar structures in the area, such as masts at nearby Pole Moor.
In favour of the proposal, planning committee member Clr Andrew Cooper, said: “There’s a lot of misinformation put out there about wind turbines.”
But Martin Hardcastle, who lives next door to Mount Pleasant Farm, said: “I don’t think it’s a fair decision.”
