Action to bring hope to Hope Moor

A packed village hall public meeting saw residents from Newsham, surrounding villages and further flung locations galvanise for action against a massive wind farm plan.

The government has agreed to Fred. Olsen Renewables’ request that Hope Moor Wind Farm, proposed for moorland near the Stang Forest, between Arkengarthdale and Teesdale, is treated as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP).

As a piece of national infrastructure, the development envisaged for the remote moor on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales has bigger turbines than any of those seen locally before – a point powerfully brought to life by local sculptor Michael Kusz.

His scale model of the turbines* was unveiled from behind the village stage’s curtains in a moment of theatre which started the discussion involving local councillors and which was also attended by MP Rishi Sunak’s agent.

In an unusual sign of unity, councillors from both North Yorkshire Council and Durham County Council (Angus Thompson and Richard Bell respectively) spoke against the plan while both acknowledged that the decision on this development actually lies far from the moorland – with the Secretary of State.

It will now be down to the campaign group to raise awareness and fight the plans. This action took a step forward last night with hundreds of signatures collected for a letter calling for the plan to be halted.

The letter states the following six reasons that the plan should be cancelled and is being sent to Secretary of State Ed Milliband, Mr Sunak, Sam Rushworth MP and the planning officers at both Durham and North Yorkshire councils:

• No need for development in the wildlife haven
• Similar applications in the past were refused
• The site sits on the boundary of Yorkshire Dales National Park and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
• Development would impact carbon stored in the deep peatland, water courses and wildlife
• The 24 species of bird on the Red conservation list and 34 species on the Yellow list need protection
• Important heritage sites including Bowes Museum, Eggleston Abbey, Barnard Castle and Bowes Castle will be impacted

As we’ve reported previously, around 20 wind turbines each 200m-high are being proposed for the moorland.

Access tracks, concrete foundations, a substation, transformers and underground electrical cabling also proposed, along with environmental and ecological mitigation work.

The developer says the scheme would generate more than 100MW of clean energy — enough to power 81,000 homes and businesses.

Much of last night’s discussion centred on the unknown elements of the proposal which include:

• What mitigations would be taken to protect wildlife?
• How will the construction be carried out with respect to the important peat bogs?
• Where will the wind farm connect to the National Grid? (location of sub station)
• How will the Wind Farm connect to the national grid (overhead, underground)
• Why was this site chosen?

We have put these points to Fred. Olsen Renewables and will update this article if/when we get a response.

Previously the company has said it works with, and has invested in, neighbouring communities to its projects since the 1990s and will continue to do so.

This article was first published in The Northern Eco at www.thenortherneco.com.