I recently visited residents at Newland who are set for months of misery during construction of a controversial windfarm development. Cracks are appearing in their homes as trucks thunder past their properties near Drax.

Report from Selby Times 04/03/10

ANGRY householders are demanding an explanation for what they claim is "appalling" treatment at the hands of developers building a 12-turbine wind farm at Newland.
Work has been started on the site at Pease Farm and Rusholme Grange by developers Wind Prospect on behalf of the French power company EDF Energy Renewables.

But residents of eight terraced properties on the western edge of the development say their concerns have been ignored, and claim Wind Prospect has acted in an "underhand and evasive manner".

Complaints centre on a variation to the access route from the A645, which runs between Drax and Airmyn.

The route originally approved by Selby District Council states vehicles must use New Lane, Brier Lane, Willow Lane and Rusholme Lane "unless otherwise approved".

Wind Prospect was later granted a variation – without it being considered by the council's planning committee – for a much shorter route along a bridle path known as Quarter Gate Lane.

Residents adjoining the route must now endure heavy trucks travelling nose-to-tail past their homes, which they say are shaking the foundations and causing clouds of dust.

Pamela Emmerson is one of those affected. She said: "The dirt and noise is appalling, and is bound to get worse as the weather improves and the road surface dries up.

"We've not had a word from the company about this change of access route; we've been completely ignored, and the council has also done nothing to set our minds at rest."

She and her neighbours fear the work won't only damage their properties, but also affect their value, without them being offered a penny in compensation.

Their case has been taken up by local estate agent Michael Townend, himself a resident of Newland, who says campaigners "have every right to fear their properties will be affected".

He's also concerned the company didn't survey the properties for possible structural defects prior to work commencing, which is normal practice in these circumstances.

Prospective Conservative MP for Selby and Ainsty Nigel Adams has visited the affected homes. He said: "The ground was shuddering as the lorries passed. Goodness knows what it was doing to the foundations.

"This was a very contentious planning approval, and has been pretty appalling for the local residents' quality of life. They will have another year of upheaval and misery to look forward to. This scheme isn't green, created no local jobs, has been heavily subsidised by British taxpayers and is providing huge profits for a French company. A good idea? I don't think so."

A Wind Prospect spokesman said: "At the time of the application, the route proposed was identified as being suitable. As is often the case with major projects, design alterations can occur.

"The new route avoided passing a listed building and historic site, and passing through a farm complex.

"It's shorter and has less impact on the public highway.

"All work has been done in close consultation with the highways authority. The new access route was approved by Selby District Council in April 2009. Local residents, parish councils and the highways authority were all consulted."