Hundreds oppose wind farm plans

Hundreds of people have complained about plans to build a wind farm on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

Energiekontor Uk Ltd wants to put five 328ft (100m) turbines at Brightenber Hill near Gargrave, Skipton.

A 250-strong group of residents have formed Friends of Craven Landscape and are campaigning against the plans.

Craven Council has received 600 letters of objection and a 600-signature petition, but its planning committee has been asked to approve the plans.

A report to the committee, which meets on Tuesday, said the setting of the turbines and their visual impact had "clearly caused concern judging from the number of representations received on this matter".

'Beautiful landscapes'

The report says: "Although the site is outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park an objection has been received by the National Park Authority on the grounds of impact on the setting of the National Park."

But it said an independent review suggests that the effects on the park would be "sufficiently limited and localised as not to be sufficient on their own to refuse the application".

"It is considered that the proposal would not unacceptably diminish the enjoyment of the countryside of the great majority of visitors to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Craven in general, or of local residents; and would not significantly harm the contribution that tourism and recreation make to the local economy."

Chris Emmett, from Friends of Craven Landscape, said: "We welcome renewable energy projects, but they must be appropriate to an area in order to conserve and protect beautiful landscapes and culture assets for everybody to enjoy."