Will taller turbines spoil Hockney's Bigger Trees?

Residents have shared their views on plans to build tall wind turbines in East Yorkshire countryside made famous by artist David Hockney's Bigger Trees painting.

The proposed wind farm by Ridge Clean Energy (RCE), near Rudston, would have six turbines, each almost 500ft (152m) tall. Together, they could power about 24,000 homes.

One local resident said the turbines would be an "eyesore" from her kitchen window, while another described them as "the way forward".

RCE project manager Richard Barker said the company had received "mixed opinions as you would expect with something like this".

He added: "But what we want is to engage with people, have them come along. We can introduce the project, our proposals and they can give us their opinions," he added.

The company wants to expand the nearby Three Oaks Energy Park in Haisthorpe, with access to the site from the A614.

A formal application has yet to be submitted, but developers are promising a £5m community benefit fund should it go ahead.

The area, known as Hockney Country, became famous through the artist's painting Bigger Trees, inspired by Woldgate Woods, which he often passed on his way to his studio in Bridlington.

At a meeting about the plans, resident Michelle Foster said: "I don't want it.

"It's going to be an eyesore out of my kitchen window. They haven't given us enough notice."

Diane Trudgett, who lives in Rudston, said the view from her bungalow would overlook the turbines.

"This is why we moved here," she said.

"We saw a book of Hockney paintings when we used to holiday and we would come to see the village. Then we decided we were going to move to the village because of the paintings and the views."

Hockney previously described wind turbines as "big ugly things" that he wouldn't paint. The BBC has approached him for a comment on the latest proposal.

However, some residents think the turbines are a good idea.

"I think [the plans] are good. We need to move with progress now," resident Sue Ezard said.

Michael Marven, who lives just under 1.2 miles (2km) from the proposed turbines and would be able to see the site from his garden, said it was all about "balance".

"It is the way forward and the sign of the times but there are already quite a few turbines around this area," he said.

"It's getting that balance right between completely destroying the visual impact of the countryside to benefitting the environment."

By Paul Murphy

Environment Correspondent

For many years, the upland landscapes of East Yorkshire felt like the poor relation to big-hitters like the Dales or the North Yorkshire Moors.

But David Hockney's decision a decade or more ago to draw inspiration from the rolling Wolds changed all of that.

His work Bigger Trees, which featured Woldgate Woods, brought global attention to this quiet corner of rural England.

There have been attempts to build wind turbines here before, but they met with fierce local opposition from those who wanted to protect "Hockney Country".

Hockney himself was among the objectors. The Ministry of Defence also expressed concerns about risks to low flying aircraft.

This time feels different.

The government has embarked on an enthusiastic push for more green energy and for it to be built more quickly.

The planning process is being streamlined. As the deadline looms for Net Zero objectives, ministers want faster decisions and less paperwork.

These 500ft (152m) tall machines have the potential to dominate the local landscape but they will also come with what developers describe as a community benefit fund worth £5m over the 40-year life of the project.

Local residents, businesses and politicians must now decide whether this is a price worth paying.

This is one of the biggest onshore turbine proposals in England for several years.

But with a government doing everything to encourage this industry this could just be the beginning of a raft of onshore wind proposals.

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