Wind power possibility for homes

Thousands of homes in the East Riding could be powered by wind turbines after the council approved plans to test the suitability of a site near Pollington.

E.ON UK, which already operates three wind farms in Yorkshire, will study the speed and intensity of the winds.

If conditions are right and the scheme is approved, 15 turbines with a maximum height of 125m will be installed at the Aire and Calder wind farm.

E.ON said the turbines could produce enough power for about 17,000 homes.

'Hope for future'

It would also displace the emission of 70,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

A previous application for an anemometer weather mast, to assess wind conditions at the site, was rejected but the company said it had worked with the council to create a revised proposal.

Project developer Alex Fornal said: "We firmly believe that Aire and Calder is an excellent site for a wind farm and this mast will give us the hard data we need to realise the site's potential.

"This decision, and the support given to the application by so many local people, gives us much hope for the future."