Kirkheaton wind turbines may have to be dismantled
Mar 29 2010 by David Black, The Journal
PLANS to restore a trouble-plagued North East wind farm to full working order look set to be rejected because of fears that it will pose a threat to air safety.
Two of the three 66m-high turbines at Kirkheaton in Northumberland have stood idle for the last 18 months, after their blades were removed because of technical problems.
Conditions imposed when the wind farm started operating in 2000 state that any turbines not working for more than six months should be removed and that part of the site restored.
Operator EDF Energy is seeking permission to vary the condition, and allow it a further 12 months to buy new parts and bring the turbines back into use.
But now Newcastle Airport has objected to the move – claiming three working turbines on the site will affect its primary surveillance radar system and interfere with air traffic control.
Next week planning officers will recommend county councillors to reject EDF’s application because of the airport’s “significant concerns.”
That would force the company to dismantle the faulty turbines, and decide whether to decommission the whole site. A report to the planning and environment committee on April 6 says the airport’s primary surveillance radar identifies moving objects in the air and is key to the safe movement of air traffic.
