RE the proposed wind farm at Hagg Wood, no doubt the police authority will be making appropriate submissions in the planning application process, particularly in relation to the close proximity of the A64 and the consequent impact on passing traffic.

The massive turbine structures are certain to be a distraction to drivers with obvious potential for accidents, added to which there is the likelihood of disruption by sightseeing motorists.

B Levey, Moor Lane, Copmanthorpe, York.


• The proposal to build a wind farm on land just to the west of Copmanthorpe has outraged many people in the village.

As a Copmanthorpe resident myself, I share their dismay and anger at the idea of this completely inappropriate development.

Personally I do not need to be convinced that we should be introducing at least some degree of clean and renewable energy generation to replace our dependence on fossil fuels.

However in this case the wider argument about environmental sustainability is entirely secondary to the negative impact this project would have on our community were it to go ahead.

It would be visually intrusive, destroy the last remaining tract of open countryside to border our village and create noise and “flicker” effects which would be a nuisance to many residents at that end of the village, as well as devaluing their properties.

Banks Renewables’ claims about how much energy this installation would actually produce are also highly questionable and it would be a heavy price to pay in helping York to meet spurious central government targets for renewable energy production.

Banks claim that this is the only part of York suitable for a wind farm - I would say that nowhere in York is suitable for a wind farm of these dimensions due to the relatively high population density and low-lying land. It is obvious that Banks are putting profit before principle and that Copmanthorpe residents have seen through their slick PR exercise.

I have recently joined several other village residents in opposing Banks’ application to erect an 80m high wind monitoring mast on the site. Virtually all the arguments against the wind farm can also be used against the mast. If this application fails it would stall the whole project. Therefore I would urge all those who oppose the plans to make a public objection to the mast via the City Council’s website at planning.york.gov.uk/Public Access by the deadline of 29 March.

Copmanthorpe neither needs nor wants a wind farm.

Richard Brown, Liberal Democrat candidate for Rural West York, Horseman Avenue, Copmanthorpe, York.