Giant windfarm would ‘blight forever’ Wuthering Heights landscape claims MP
Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore has raised the controversial Walshaw Moor plans in Parliament
A windfarm described as one of the biggest in the country will “blight forever” the Bronte country landscape of Wuthering Heights, if it is is allowed by Government to be built, claims an MP.
Keighley and Ilkley MP Robbie Moore (Conservative) introduced a Parliamentary debate considering the impact windfarm development might have on 2,300 hectares of protected peatland.
He argued the case against Calderdale Energy Park’s proposals to place up to 34 wind turbines on Walshaw Moor above Hebden Bridge which will impact on Calderdale and Bradfiord in Yorkshire and Pendle in Lancashire.
Calderdale Energy Park, whose statutory public consultation on the proposals runs until June 10, argues the site is in an area identified for generating on-shore wind power, helping deliver “reliable, home-grown renewable energy, helping to reduce energy costs, support local jobs and strengthen energy security”, the turbines capable of generating up to 240 mega watts (MW) on renewable energy.
But Mr Moore said this would come at a price to protected peatland, including damaging a vital carbon store, among other impacts on nature, and have a severe impact on the setting of key cultural heritage.
Taken together, that price would be too high, said Mr Moore in the debate.
“Understandably, our much-loved Brontë Society is firmly against the proposed wind farm development across our heritage landscape, which encompasses Top Withens, believed to be the inspiration for the setting of ‘Wuthering Heights’.
“That landscape, I might add, has a live application worked up right now for UNESCO world heritage status, along with listed status for Top Withens.
“If this wind farm proposal goes ahead, that landscape will be blighted forever.
“We know that because, even after the decommissioning stage of the wind farm, none of the infrastructure is proposed to be removed, apart from the turbines themselves.
“The road infrastructure, all that cabling and those deep foundations that sit beneath the turbines are not proposed to be removed once the wind farm comes to the end of its life, blighting our heritage landscape and the peat forever.”
Mr Moore said he had invited neighbouring MPs – for Shipley, Calder Valley, Halifax, Pendle and Clitheroe, and Burnley – to the debate and urged them to join him opposing the proposals, but was disappointed only Shipley MP Anna Dixon (Labour) and Calder Valley’s Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour) attended.
Ms Dixon said she agreed with him that peatlands “are crucial in our fight against climate change” and also reduced flood risk, a very evident concern in Calder Valley.
She had been contacted over the proposals by some constituents: “They rightly believe that protected peatland should be protected.
“I agree with them, and I think that the Labour Government, and I hope the Minister, will give the same assurance – I believe that is why there has been a recent announcement that large infrastructure must also be covered by a biodiversity net gain.
“I urge the Government to listen to the arguments made in this debate.
“There could clearly be major negative impacts on our precious peatlands in this area of Yorkshire, and I ask that the Government look carefully and reconsider the proposals.”
Mr Fenton-Glynn, who since the proposals were announced has been under pressure from some constituents to openly oppose the plans, said he knew the moorland well and it was a “uniquely beautiful landscape, resplendent with curlews, lapwings and other moorland birds” though in itself this would not be reason to block the plans as the country needed to ramp up green energy infrastructure.
But following the science should inform the process: “The more we learn about peat and its role in absorbing carbon, the clearer it is that building on peat will do more harm than good,” he said.
Mr Fenton-Glynn said his point was not about a development in Calderdale but about the principle of trying to tackle climate change and looking at that “in the round” with regard to developments on peat and whether any developments on peat make sense.
“I think my position is fairly clear from what I am saying.
“I followed the evidence where it led me, and it led me to the concerns that I have expressed to Ministers fairly constantly, to the point where I have made clear my view that building on protected peat is counter-productive to our climate change aims,” he said.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Chris McDonald, responding for the Government, said: “From the contributions we have heard today, I would say there is strong agreement in this room on the need both to tackle climate change and to care for our special environments in the UK, including peatland.
“Because peat soils are rich in carbon, disturbances will have climate impacts.
“We therefore recognise that building infrastructure such as onshore wind on peatland can have detrimental impacts, and we appreciate that communities have valid concerns about that.
“That is why we have protections in the planning system requiring careful consideration from developers and decision makers when onshore wind farm developments are proposed on peatlands.
Mr McDonald said the Government was committed to publishing additional guidance regarding wind farm construction on peatland in England.
The Government was also in ongoing discussions with the Scottish Government about developing a carbon calculator tool for England similar to the one currently used in Scotland, which could inform policy decisions around developments on peatlands, he said.
Mr Moore said the debate had been worthwhile but he still had major concerns – the Government offering guidance rather than protection.
He claimed neighbouring MPs had not put forward a position as to whether they would join him in campaigning “as strongly as we can against this application.”
“Concerns have been raised, but there is no formal position,” said Mr Moore.