National park plan for Yorkshire Wolds

8:45am Saturday 17th December 2011 in News Photograph of the Author By Richard Catton, richard.catton@thepress.co.uk

THE Yorkshire Wolds should be made a national park or area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), campaigners have said.

Conservationists and wind-farm opponents spoke out after East Riding of Yorkshire Council refused plans for a mast near Driffield.

Had it been given the go-ahead on Thursday, the plan would have seen the construction of a 200ft wind monitoring mast on land near Blakedale Farm, in Nafferton.

But Steve Hey, chairman of the No To Wolds Wind Farm Group, welcomed the council’s decision and said: “This could be the wind of change needed; a significant moment where the bigger picture has finally been seen.

“It would seem the future protection of the Yorkshire Wolds has now become a high priority for East Riding of Yorkshire Council.”

He said: “There has never been a better time to work together and achieve national park or AONB status for one of the country’s finest landscapes.”

The group said its calls for a new national park were repeated by councillors at Thursday’s meeting.

Mr Hey said: “As a group we are now seeking East Riding Council support to get some form of designation under way and will also be requesting the full support of the parish and town councils across the boroughs and districts involved.”

In refusing the plans for the mast, council members went against the recommendations of their own planning officers.

According to Gaoh Energy, the company which submitted the application, the mast would have been used to test wind speeds with a view to installing wind turbines in the area in the future.

According to East Riding of Yorkshire Council, the plans were refused on the grounds of the impact the mast would have had on the surrounding landscape.

Comments(11)

Garrowby Turnoff says...
11:53am Sat 17 Dec 11

Quite right to protect the Wolds. Amongst many, Hockney would tell you so, and I'll bet you'll never see a wind turbine in one of his Wolds paintings.

Can you imagine "Bigger wind turbines near Warter" on display at York Art Gallery and pulling in thousands of art lovers?

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James Street Bare Knuckle Gypsy Fighter says...
12:23pm Sat 17 Dec 11

I think the wolds is boring. I suggest building a travellers site
In the middle of it. I find people who live in the sticks weird and smelly

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dogcapp says...
12:37pm Sat 17 Dec 11

Doesnt a national park sound nice. Be careful what you wish for. A national park means more rules and regulations and local park authorities than you can shake a stick at. And the people in charge wont be local. Permission would have to be sought for lots of things that dont need asking for now. Planning permission would be a nightmare for everybody

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Steve, says...
3:48pm Sat 17 Dec 11

Great idea, seriously. But, in 5 years time would you want a bench placing or maybe a small public shelter from the weather? wouldn't be allowed due to planning permissions.

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KAT1965 says...
4:35pm Sat 17 Dec 11

If the the Lincs Wolds can be an ANOB then why not the Yorks Wolds? I agree about the National Park though - you have to get planning permission to clean your windows in them!!!! As for JSBKGF's comments - you'd be surprised what the suburbites say about some of the downtrodden areas of York As a townie turned carrot cruncher, I know where I would rather live.

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norfolkboy15 says...
4:38pm Sat 17 Dec 11

Are you fed up with with our flawed planning process which is holding back our sustainable future? Help us push for more renewable energy:
http:epetitions.dire
ct.gov.ukpetitions71
38

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piaggio says...
11:16pm Sat 17 Dec 11

yup,must admit,most of em that live out that way are soo far up there own a**e.it,s nowt flash

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Amoco Caditz says...
10:28am Mon 19 Dec 11

'James Street Bare Knuckle Gypsy Fighter says...
12:23pm Sat 17 Dec 11

I think the wolds is boring. I suggest building a travellers site
In the middle of it. I find people who live in the sticks weird and smelly.'

I take it this comment was intended to be bait?

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Magicman! says...
11:37pm Mon 19 Dec 11

If the Wolds became a national park, then I'd be looking at a national park from my bedroom window... it has a nicer ring to it that "looking at some far away hills with sheep on". It'd also boost Yorkshire for adventure tourism, as we'd then have three national parks all no more than 60 miles apart

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MrsHoney says...
1:58pm Thu 22 Dec 11

The Wolds are actually quite boring, I don't think they deserve National Park status at all!! It's some hills and fields, hardly outstanding beauty!! The North York Moors is far nicer.

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Save the Wolds from Windfarms says...
7:04pm Mon 26 Dec 11

If you think the Wolds are boring you obviously don't know them. The Wolds are not just the A166 corridor to Bridlington. Check out, Burdale, Givendale, Thixendale, Kilnwick Percy, Millington, Wharam Percy, Warter, Nunburnholme, Goodmanham, Fairy Dale, Pluckham Plantation, Millington Pastures, Millington Wood, Birdsall, Acklam, Leavening, Fridaythorpe, Kirbyunderdale, Hanging Grimston, Uncleby, Garrowby and that is just one small section of the Wolds. They are the most northerly outcrop of chalk in Britain and the glacial valleys mak them unique. Stop the car get out and look!

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