Welcome. This website has been produced by the 'Residents Of Airmyn Against (Rusholme) Wind Farm'. Thank you for visiting us, please feel free to have a look around. If you would like to contribute to the website, please email [email protected]
It is our mission to object to the proposed Rusholme wind farm. The proposed development is for fourteen 2MW (28MW) wind turbines. The wind farm site is in the parish of Newland with the nearest turbine being approximately 2.3km east of the village of Drax and approximately 1km north-west of Airmyn. (For a map showing location, please click here)
Each turbine would be approximately 100 metres tall, roughly the same height as one of Drax power station's cooling towers. The company 'Wind Prospect' is behind this proposed development.
We have looked at the proposed development in detail, and studied existing wind farms around the UK. We are opposing this development for the following reasons;
Visual Impact - The location of these turbines would prove to be highly intrusive to residents of near-by villages and also to visitors. Because the land around here is so flat, these turbines would be visible for many miles around, and unlike any other large fixed structure, they do not merge into the landscape because their blades are constantly moving.
Noise - This will be a problem, particularly on still nights. Because the turbines are so high, the noise from them will be projected over a considerable distance.
Ecological Impact - There is no doubt that wind turbines kill birds. Why else would the RSPB object to wind farm development? Areas around new wind farms quickly become bird free zones.
Although these are our primary objections, there are many other reasons why this development should not go ahead. The visual impact (size and number of turbines) is unacceptable and cannot be justified or mitigated in such a landscape setting. Wind turbines rotate, and consequently they are highly noticeable. Due to the proposed location of these turbines, the sun would go down behind these moving turbine blades, causing shadows/flicker. It is also likely that television and radio reception will be adversely affected.
We believe that this development departs from the local council plans which make such industrial structures entirely inappropriate in this area and a similar request for any other type of industrial development would be summarily rejected.
Noise is another important consideration. Wind turbines do generate a considerable amount of noise, both from the gearboxes and the rotating blades. Due to the flat nature of the land, this noise would travel over a considerable distance. There is also considerable risk to wildlife (birds/bats, etc) in the vicinity. The electrical yield of the turbines simply cannot justify the damage which will be caused to the landscape.
If you would like to contact us regarding this proposed development or any other related topic, please do so by phone, SMS, or email. We will endeavour to reply to any queries within 24 hours.