Campaigners fighting a wind turbine application vow to carry on despite ‘cowardly’ attacks

Anthea Orchard, chairman of Thornton Moor Wind Farm Action Group Anthea Orchard, chairman of Thornton Moor Wind Farm Action Group

Protesters fighting plans for wind turbines on moorland in Bronte country have had four campaign banners slashed and defaced by vandals.

Anthea Orchard, chairman of Thornton Moor Wind Farm Action Group, which is challenging plans by Banks Renewables to build up to four turbines on moorland south of Denholme , said signs valued at hundreds of pounds have been destroyed in a spate of attacks over the past five days.

Members of the group have reported the damage to West Yorkshire Police, but vowed to replace the banners and continue their fight against the proposals.

Mrs Orchard, of Denholme Gate, said: “We’re clearly upsetting someone, but to resort to vandalism is cowardly.

“We set up a forum on our website for people to give us their views, so long as they’re not abusive or obscene. If someone has something to say, we’ve given them a channel to do it.

“To commit criminal damage just shows they are cowards.”

The group has had backing from The Bronte Society, which claims turbines may spoil the “unique countryside” believed to have inspired the Bronte sisters’ world-famous novels, and has now also won support from Bradford and District’s UKIP branch.

Its members will join forces with the political party – which it claims is the only one to speak out against wind power – to mount a campaign against the “destruction” of the green belt.

Jason Smith, UKIP Bradford chairman, said: “Local people have had a gut full of wind turbines being built in their backyards with no process to oppose them – they’ve had enough of local councillors standing idly by and ignoring their pleas for help.

“Together with hundreds of local people we intend to fight wind turbine applications that do not have support of local people.

“Currently we are disputing an application on Thornton Moor which we expect to be overturned. We’ll either bring down wind turbines or we’ll bring down the local councillors who support them.”

For more information about Thornton Moor Wind Farm Action Group, visit sayno2windfarm.org.uk.

Comments(20)

Apollo says...
11:33am Tue 11 Sep 12

And of course those protesters had full planning permission to erect the banners in the first place did they not?

Albion. says...
11:33am Tue 11 Sep 12

How exactly is someone damaging what is very likely an illegal banner, a "cowardly act"?
One has to wonder what the reaction would be if someone erected "pro wind turbine" banners?

flashdonut says...
11:42am Tue 11 Sep 12

You wont need planning. They will not be illegal.
.
Secret, night time vandalism is cowardly.
.
Hardly a puzzle.

Albion. says...
12:10pm Tue 11 Sep 12

flashdonut wrote:
You wont need planning. They will not be illegal.
.
Secret, night time vandalism is cowardly.
.
Hardly a puzzle.
Does it say that the damage was done secretly or at night?

Wanna Have says...
12:10pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Having the support of UKIP is not a badge of honour I would admit to !

Prisoner Cell Block A says...
12:51pm Tue 11 Sep 12

The Bronte novels are over-rated, Haworth and surrounding is over rated, wind turbines as effective/ineffectiv
e as they may be need to be in place to catch as much wind as possible.

Up on the moors and down the coastlines is the most viable option. Don't like it, look out of your other window,.

flashdonut says...
1:24pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
You wont need planning. They will not be illegal.
.
Secret, night time vandalism is cowardly.
.
Hardly a puzzle.
Does it say that the damage was done secretly or at night?
No. But neither does it say illegal. However, having a mind that works for itself, I can conclude that is was secretely and at dinner. It would be the most logical.
.
If you are able to 'think' and assume illegal, why can others not think for themselves?
.
Either way, they are not illegal. And it was cowardly. Google it.

Albion. says...
1:47pm Tue 11 Sep 12

flashdonut wrote:
Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
You wont need planning. They will not be illegal.
.
Secret, night time vandalism is cowardly.
.
Hardly a puzzle.
Does it say that the damage was done secretly or at night?
No. But neither does it say illegal. However, having a mind that works for itself, I can conclude that is was secretely and at dinner. It would be the most logical.
.
If you are able to 'think' and assume illegal, why can others not think for themselves?
.
Either way, they are not illegal. And it was cowardly. Google it.
In your opinion!

angry bradfordian says...
1:50pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Hardly the crime of the century is it?
Of all the crime that goes on in Bradford, it's one of the lesser 'cowardly' ones I've read about.
The photo looks like a bit of graffiti that I can hardly read. Vandals also mindlessly deface road signs and trains. It doesn't necessarily mean they's anti-direction or anti-rail.

These people must have an extraordinarily good PR arm to get such a minor story in the paper.
The only thing it's done is give me another reason not to vote UKIP.

Apollo says...
1:51pm Tue 11 Sep 12

It makes me laugh that people who are against wind turbines are perfectly prepared to deface the same countryside with banners, placards or whatever opposing them.

flashdonut says...
2:51pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
You wont need planning. They will not be illegal.
.
Secret, night time vandalism is cowardly.
.
Hardly a puzzle.
Does it say that the damage was done secretly or at night?
No. But neither does it say illegal. However, having a mind that works for itself, I can conclude that is was secretely and at dinner. It would be the most logical.
.
If you are able to 'think' and assume illegal, why can others not think for themselves?
.
Either way, they are not illegal. And it was cowardly. Google it.
In your opinion!
Yes. Obviously. Who's else would they be? just as your opinion was the banners are illegal.
.
Your point? Other than a poor attempt at been a smart ****.
.
For the record, they are not ilegal and it was cowardly.
.
Good day.

Albion. says...
3:07pm Tue 11 Sep 12

flashdonut wrote:
Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
You wont need planning. They will not be illegal.
.
Secret, night time vandalism is cowardly.
.
Hardly a puzzle.
Does it say that the damage was done secretly or at night?
No. But neither does it say illegal. However, having a mind that works for itself, I can conclude that is was secretely and at dinner. It would be the most logical.
.
If you are able to 'think' and assume illegal, why can others not think for themselves?
.
Either way, they are not illegal. And it was cowardly. Google it.
In your opinion!
Yes. Obviously. Who's else would they be? just as your opinion was the banners are illegal.
.
Your point? Other than a poor attempt at been a smart ****.
.
For the record, they are not ilegal and it was cowardly.
.
Good day.
No it wasn't.

Wanna Have says...
3:39pm Tue 11 Sep 12

flashdonut wrote:
Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote: You wont need planning. They will not be illegal. . Secret, night time vandalism is cowardly. . Hardly a puzzle.
Does it say that the damage was done secretly or at night?
No. But neither does it say illegal. However, having a mind that works for itself, I can conclude that is was secretely and at dinner. It would be the most logical. . If you are able to 'think' and assume illegal, why can others not think for themselves? . Either way, they are not illegal. And it was cowardly. Google it.
In your opinion!
Yes. Obviously. Who's else would they be? just as your opinion was the banners are illegal. . Your point? Other than a poor attempt at been a smart ****. . For the record, they are not ilegal and it was cowardly. . Good day.
And that's a Fact folks !!, Here's clearly someone who sees both sides of an argument(Nimby).

flashdonut says...
3:47pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Wanna Have wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote:
Albion. wrote:
flashdonut wrote: You wont need planning. They will not be illegal. . Secret, night time vandalism is cowardly. . Hardly a puzzle.
Does it say that the damage was done secretly or at night?
No. But neither does it say illegal. However, having a mind that works for itself, I can conclude that is was secretely and at dinner. It would be the most logical. . If you are able to 'think' and assume illegal, why can others not think for themselves? . Either way, they are not illegal. And it was cowardly. Google it.
In your opinion!
Yes. Obviously. Who's else would they be? just as your opinion was the banners are illegal. . Your point? Other than a poor attempt at been a smart ****. . For the record, they are not ilegal and it was cowardly. . Good day.
And that's a Fact folks !!, Here's clearly someone who sees both sides of an argument(Nimby).
What sides? There's your sarcastic nonsense and there's 'in your opinion'. Hardly a worthwhile debate. My comment, obviously mine, has been ridiculed for been mine. Still no idea of the reasoning (because there is no reasoning).
.
The banners are not illegal. I know. And the vandalism is cowardly. There's debate on that word, I agree. Just a pity nobody has debated it. Instead just attempted humour and failed.
.
As for the NIMBY part, it does not go into context with both sides of an argument, does it?
.
But well done on the sarcasm. Have another go, or maybe go crazy and debate this story. Just saying is all.

somewhereinbradford says...
4:30pm Tue 11 Sep 12

Hello, I am a TMWAG spokesperson who can confirm that all our signs are temporary, and have been erected with the permission of the landowners, and mostly in private gardens, not in the countryside as you so claim. Most signs were defaced with wind energy related hype. There was one sign however that was sliced top and bottom leaving just the fixing eyelets in place on the railings. The damage that occured was criminal damage to private property worth over £200. No debate required. We have a message to give to the public, so if pro wind activists or whatever they are, have a message to communicate they should do it in the same lawful manner in which we have done. If that means that they put a banner up in a field somewhere then that's up to them. Pay the £100 for a banner and see how you feel when someone rips it down.

Our campaign is here in order for the public to learn more about wind energy, as the developer obviously just quotes what they want people to know. BUT there is obviously 2 sides to every story, and that other side just happens to be on our website.

As for nimbyism, I say loud and proud with the rest of the Action Group Members, yes we are nimbies, because we care about where we live and want to protect it for the future. The lies being fed from government about the energy situation is appalling, and based on the financial gain which this industry thrives on. David Cameron's father in law draws £1,000 A DAY from his wind turbines in Lincolnshire!!! See this story for more information http://www.dailymail
.co.uk/home/moslive/
article-2199284/Wind
-farms-Are-wind-farm
s-saving-killing-A-p
rovocative-investiga
tion-claims-thousand
s-people-falling-sic
k-live-near-them.htm
l#ixzz25w1dxDxw

Albion. says...
5:05pm Tue 11 Sep 12

somewhereinbradford wrote:
Hello, I am a TMWAG spokesperson who can confirm that all our signs are temporary, and have been erected with the permission of the landowners, and mostly in private gardens, not in the countryside as you so claim. Most signs were defaced with wind energy related hype. There was one sign however that was sliced top and bottom leaving just the fixing eyelets in place on the railings. The damage that occured was criminal damage to private property worth over £200. No debate required. We have a message to give to the public, so if pro wind activists or whatever they are, have a message to communicate they should do it in the same lawful manner in which we have done. If that means that they put a banner up in a field somewhere then that's up to them. Pay the £100 for a banner and see how you feel when someone rips it down.

Our campaign is here in order for the public to learn more about wind energy, as the developer obviously just quotes what they want people to know. BUT there is obviously 2 sides to every story, and that other side just happens to be on our website.

As for nimbyism, I say loud and proud with the rest of the Action Group Members, yes we are nimbies, because we care about where we live and want to protect it for the future. The lies being fed from government about the energy situation is appalling, and based on the financial gain which this industry thrives on. David Cameron's father in law draws £1,000 A DAY from his wind turbines in Lincolnshire!!! See this story for more information http://www.dailymail

.co.uk/home/moslive/

article-2199284/Wind

-farms-Are-wind-farm

s-saving-killing-A-p

rovocative-investiga

tion-claims-thousand

s-people-falling-sic

k-live-near-them.htm

l#ixzz25w1dxDxw
Thank you for clearing that up, the report makes no mention of the banners being erected on supporters property and if anything, leads you to believe they are actually onsite.
My apologies for being hoodwinked by the usual incomplete reporting.

webess says...
5:22pm Tue 11 Sep 12

somewhereinbradford wrote:
Hello, I am a TMWAG spokesperson who can confirm that all our signs are temporary, and have been erected with the permission of the landowners, and mostly in private gardens, not in the countryside as you so claim. Most signs were defaced with wind energy related hype. There was one sign however that was sliced top and bottom leaving just the fixing eyelets in place on the railings. The damage that occured was criminal damage to private property worth over £200. No debate required. We have a message to give to the public, so if pro wind activists or whatever they are, have a message to communicate they should do it in the same lawful manner in which we have done. If that means that they put a banner up in a field somewhere then that's up to them. Pay the £100 for a banner and see how you feel when someone rips it down.

Our campaign is here in order for the public to learn more about wind energy, as the developer obviously just quotes what they want people to know. BUT there is obviously 2 sides to every story, and that other side just happens to be on our website.

As for nimbyism, I say loud and proud with the rest of the Action Group Members, yes we are nimbies, because we care about where we live and want to protect it for the future. The lies being fed from government about the energy situation is appalling, and based on the financial gain which this industry thrives on. David Cameron's father in law draws £1,000 A DAY from his wind turbines in Lincolnshire!!! See this story for more information http://www.dailymail

.co.uk/home/moslive/

article-2199284/Wind

-farms-Are-wind-farm

s-saving-killing-A-p

rovocative-investiga

tion-claims-thousand

s-people-falling-sic

k-live-near-them.htm

l#ixzz25w1dxDxw
Presumably if there comes a time when there's not enough generating capacity available, you and your fellow NIMBY's will volunteer to be first in lines for power cuts?

Red Grouse says...
5:39pm Tue 11 Sep 12

This sort of thing is seen around the country. We had the lot: from a blimp being cut loose, causing a civil air safety alert, to the usual destruction of posters, damage to vehicles, nuisance calls and attempted computer hacks.

We knew who was responsible - a group of so-called eco-activists from outside the area who had been hired by the developer in a pathetic attempt to try and drum up some evidence of support for their scheme (without much success).

These people are all for 'direct action' which usually involves trashing somebody else's property under cover of darkness, but start howling about civil liberties and their rights when they are held to account for criminal damage and aggravated trespass.

Set up some cheap CCTV cameras and make sure they are held to account for their anti-social behaviour.

somewhereinbradford says...
6:08pm Tue 11 Sep 12

webess wrote:
somewhereinbradford wrote:
Hello, I am a TMWAG spokesperson who can confirm that all our signs are temporary, and have been erected with the permission of the landowners, and mostly in private gardens, not in the countryside as you so claim. Most signs were defaced with wind energy related hype. There was one sign however that was sliced top and bottom leaving just the fixing eyelets in place on the railings. The damage that occured was criminal damage to private property worth over £200. No debate required. We have a message to give to the public, so if pro wind activists or whatever they are, have a message to communicate they should do it in the same lawful manner in which we have done. If that means that they put a banner up in a field somewhere then that's up to them. Pay the £100 for a banner and see how you feel when someone rips it down.

Our campaign is here in order for the public to learn more about wind energy, as the developer obviously just quotes what they want people to know. BUT there is obviously 2 sides to every story, and that other side just happens to be on our website.

As for nimbyism, I say loud and proud with the rest of the Action Group Members, yes we are nimbies, because we care about where we live and want to protect it for the future. The lies being fed from government about the energy situation is appalling, and based on the financial gain which this industry thrives on. David Cameron's father in law draws £1,000 A DAY from his wind turbines in Lincolnshire!!! See this story for more information http://www.dailymail


.co.uk/home/moslive/


article-2199284/Wind


-farms-Are-wind-farm


s-saving-killing-A-p


rovocative-investiga


tion-claims-thousand


s-people-falling-sic


k-live-near-them.htm


l#ixzz25w1dxDxw
Presumably if there comes a time when there's not enough generating capacity available, you and your fellow NIMBY's will volunteer to be first in lines for power cuts?
I already have a 3kw solar panel system... How about you?

Mike Strutter says...
10:27pm Tue 11 Sep 12

somewhereinbradford wrote:
Hello, I am a TMWAG spokesperson who can confirm that all our signs are temporary, and have been erected with the permission of the landowners, and mostly in private gardens, not in the countryside as you so claim. Most signs were defaced with wind energy related hype. There was one sign however that was sliced top and bottom leaving just the fixing eyelets in place on the railings. The damage that occured was criminal damage to private property worth over £200. No debate required. We have a message to give to the public, so if pro wind activists or whatever they are, have a message to communicate they should do it in the same lawful manner in which we have done. If that means that they put a banner up in a field somewhere then that's up to them. Pay the £100 for a banner and see how you feel when someone rips it down.

Our campaign is here in order for the public to learn more about wind energy, as the developer obviously just quotes what they want people to know. BUT there is obviously 2 sides to every story, and that other side just happens to be on our website.

As for nimbyism, I say loud and proud with the rest of the Action Group Members, yes we are nimbies, because we care about where we live and want to protect it for the future. The lies being fed from government about the energy situation is appalling, and based on the financial gain which this industry thrives on. David Cameron's father in law draws £1,000 A DAY from his wind turbines in Lincolnshire!!! See this story for more information http://www.dailymail

.co.uk/home/moslive/

article-2199284/Wind

-farms-Are-wind-farm

s-saving-killing-A-p

rovocative-investiga

tion-claims-thousand

s-people-falling-sic

k-live-near-them.htm

l#ixzz25w1dxDxw
Well said Sir/madam

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