Robin Hood airport consulted on plans for 56 wind farms
01.12.06
Robin Hood Airport has been notified about 56 wind farm proposals within a 20-mile radius of the terminal, a spokesman for the airport has revealed. Eleven of the 56 schemes, all of which they have been informed of since opening last year, fall within the planning system and that the airport is objecting to five.
The information was revealed by the airport following accusations by environmental lobby group ERA4Wind that Robin Hood Airport was not doing enough to support renewable energy projects. Members of ERA4Wind have been angered by objections the airport has made to windfarms on the basis they could prevent planes from flying in to and out of the area safely.
The airport recently objected to a controversial plan for 28 turbines at a site in Thorne because it feared that it may hamper air traffic control around the site by creating 'clutter' on radar. Experts also highlighted the negative impact 22 giant wind turbines near Thorne Moors Nature Reserve could have on the future growth of the airport.
But airport managing director David Ryall said: 'Peel Holdings Limited [the owner of Robin Hood Airport] is not against renewable energy, or wind farms in particular - far from it. The company operates in both the renewable sector and aviation sector and therefore is well place to take a balanced view on stated requirements for renewable energy and the development of the UK Government's aviation policy, which encompasses the growth of Robin Hood Airport.'
'The interaction of wind farms and aviation is recognised by both sectors as a complex issue. UK Government safeguarding procedures require airports to consider wind farm proposals on a case-by-case basis to ensure preservation of a safe operating environment around the airport.'
'If a proposed wind farm site does not conflict with aviation safeguarding requirements the airport would not object, as is the case for more than half of the proposed sites. Where there is a safeguarding conflict an objection will be retained unless the developer can propose mitigation measures to overcome whatever the conflict may be.'
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