Windfarm scheme risks future generations, says councillor

The meeting, organised by the Hope Moor Action Group, will take place at 7pm on Thursday, June 25, in the main hall at Richmond School.

The group says many residents in Richmond and Arkengarthdale have had limited exposure to the consultation process surrounding proposals by renewable energy company Fred. Olsen Renewables.

The plans would see 23 wind turbines, each up to 200 metres high, installed across around 2,700 acres of moorland between Arkengarthdale and Teesdale.

Opponents of the scheme have raised concerns about its visual impact, effects on wildlife habitats and peatland, and the disruption that could be caused during construction.

The meeting will be chaired by North Yorkshire councillor for North Richmondshire, Angus Thompson.

Cllr Thompson said the development would have a significant impact on the landscape and local communities, describing it as “an absolute sacrilege” which could cause damage to wildlife habitats and peat bogs while creating disruption on local roads during construction.

He added: “This is the biggest international infrastructure planning proposal Richmond has ever had to deal with and its full impact will be far-reaching.

“It will just decimate this beautiful area and I think we owe it not just to ourselves but to future generations to fight this all the way, to resist it all the way.

“I’m not anti-wind turbine, and I’m not anti the green agenda but I think there’s a place for them. If you go down to Redcar for example, there’s about 15 of them in the sea and you hardly notice them.”

The public meeting will feature presentations examining the scale of the proposed development, its potential effects on flora and fauna, the loss of peatland, possible flood implications and the challenges of delivering a major infrastructure project in a remote upland area.

Hope Moor Action Group says communities across the area need to work together to ensure their views are represented as the project progresses through the planning process.

The developer has welcomed feedback and encouraged anyone with an interest in the Hope Moor proposals to share their views.

The company has said the site was chosen because of its strong and consistent wind speeds, which could help cut carbon emissions and improve energy security.

The developer has acknowledged concerns about peatland, saying initial surveys suggest much of the site contains relatively shallow peat and organic-rich soils rather than deep peat.

It says further assessments will be carried out to help avoid sensitive areas, minimise environmental impacts and identify opportunities for peatland restoration, and that the long-term carbon savings from the wind farm are expected to outweigh construction emissions.

More information is available at hopemoor.co.uk