An artist has used his skills with metal to make a scale model of one of 23 200m high wind turbines planned for the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
Reeth-based sculptor Michael Kusz has created a 1:76 scale turbine to help people understand the size of the Hope Moor Wind Farm, which is proposed for moorland between Arkengarthdale and Teesdale.
The artist, whose work has been commissioned by public sector and private clients from across the UK, has also painted the trailer he uses to transport his sculptures to depict the landscape, if the wind farm was approved.
He said: “I’m generally in favour of turbines but they’re taking the mick with this.
“Fred. Olsen are a Norwegian company but they wouldn’t be allowed to build this is Norway because they honour their natural landscapes there, so they’re doing it here.”
The artist is taking the trailer and turbine model to public meetings and consultation events organised by the developer and opponents of the scheme.
He also takes along figures depicting legendary steeplejack Fred Dibnah and his trademark Land Rover, as well as a model chimney stack and boiler house.
The artist said: “When I completed the model of the turbine I was gobsmacked at the scale of the thing.
“People come to the Dales because of its iconic landscapes, they don’t want to see a huge wind farm. At the moment, there are places in the Dales where you can have a 360-degree view and see nothing.
“Then there’s the thousands of tonnes of peat that’s going to be extracted, and the thousands of tonnes of alkaline concrete that’s going to be dumped in acidic peat beds.
“The whole thing is wanton destruction.”
Developer Fred. Olsen Renewables (FORL) is seeking permission to construct 23 wind turbines, each standing 200 metres high to blade tip.
The development would have a generating capacity of more than 150MW, FORL says.
The developer’s first consultation exercise is currently underway ahead of a development consent order application potentially filed with the Planning Inspectorate in 2027.
The remaining consultation events will be held on Thursday, June 4, from 3pm to 8pm at Newsham Village Hall and on Saturday, June 6, from 10am to 3pm at Reeth Memorial Hall.
An online consultation webinar is also planned for Wednesday, June 10 at 6pm for those unable to attend in person.
Consultation responses can be submitted online, by email or by post until June 30.
Visit www.hopemoor.co.uk for more information.
What a brilliant idea. This should bring home exactly what is being proposed here, and the utter desolation it will cause.
Great article, covers my points very well, only one correction needed to clarify for the context –
Where it reads
At the moment, there are places in the Dales where you can have a 360-degree view and see nothing.
Should read –
At the moment, there are places in the Dales where you can have a 360-degree view and see nothing manmade.