CAMPAIGNERS battling plans for a giant wind farm in Rotherham’s green belt believe the town’s taxpayers could end up footing a huge bill for the project.
The chairman of the Penny Hill Wind Farm Action Group, Mike Corden, believes that hundreds of households in Ulley, Aston and Brampton-en-le-Morthen could be within their rights to demand reductions in their council tax payments due to falling house prices—forcing rises for others in the town.
Mr Corden said: “There is a precedent for tax rebates and reductions where the prices of people’s homes are affected by a project like this.
“The Penny Hill project is larger and closer in proximity to people’s houses than any other development of its kind so the claim in Rotherham could easily be the largest of its kind.
“Several hundred homes could be eligible to serious cuts in their council tax.”
At a meeting of Rotherham Borough Council's planning board in May, Banks Renewables claimed that 470 homes would be in some way affected by the development of six 130-metre high turbines on the greenbelt land near Ulley.
Among the potential issues are loss of television reception, strobing—shadows cast by the turbines blades—and low frequency noise from the installations.
Mr Corden added: “The council could face a huge bill in relation to this project at some point in the future and it will be the towns residents who will be left to carry the can.”
Read more: Government gives backing to Ulley wind farm - pick up this week’s Advertiser (July 30).