Beacon Moor And A Proposed Windfarm



Should we?
     The arguments for and against wind energy have been covered ad nauseam elsewhere.  Costs to consumers, reliability, environmental impacts, I am as yet undecided on the issue as a whole and look at this proposal solely from the selfish point of view that it would have a visual impact in areas I enjoy visiting.
     A large mast appeared a little while ago up on Beacon Moor.  This 60 metre monitoring mast is there to assess the viability of having a wind farm on the site.  The proposed site is near the burnt part on the map below, North West of Upleatham village.  4 turbines up to 115metres high will occupy this plateau, nearly double the height of the monitoring mast.  The turbines will be visible from miles around.  It will be seen clearly from the coast, from British Steel and beyond in the North to far past Saltburn.  In the other direction from the viewpoints of Highcliff Nab above Guisborough and Roseberry Topping.
      All that said, the views from the coast currently incorporate a large area of industry.  People there will also soon be able to enjoy the sight of 27 offshore wind turbines.  Could they have added another 4 here instead?

     The main argument may come from those who live in the direct vicinity and are worried about the effect it will have on there house prices.  Although, I doubt the people of Upleatham will go hungry because of this.  There have apparently been some complaints about the mast affecting horse riders on the top loop, the mast is away from the bridleways and on private agricultural land and as such I don't see what problems could have occurred.  I feel that sometimes locals bring up problems to bolster there argument that seem a bit silly and this puts them in danger of undermining any legitimate issues they may have. 
     I may no longer enjoy walking in this area if the turbines are built.  I would prefer if they aren't, but then I would prefer this site to one up on the moors or on the Cleveland Hills.  They will most certainly alter the character of the area to an extent that I will choose to travel just that little bit further for my strolls.
  • A website produced by those who are protesting against the proposal is here

  • Information on the wind monitoring mast is here

  • Information from the developers about the proposal is available here


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