Fury on plans for giant turbines
Thursday 25th June 2009, 11:30AM BST.
Six giant wind turbines could transform the landscape in South Staffordshire, it was revealed today.
Wind Prospect unveiled controversial plans to build them on land at King Street near Brineton on the Bradford Estate, near Weston Park.
Villagers fear turbines, which will stretch to about 413ft at their tip, will be too loud, a blot on the landscape and may cause problems for cattle and horses.
The firm behind the plans held a public exhibition into the proposals at Blymhill Village Hall yesterday afternoon. Plans may be lodged with South Staffordshire Council in autumn and if approved, workers could be on site within two or three years. Among those at the exhibition was Councillor Shelia Dodd, vice-chairwoman of Church Eaton Parish Council of Birchmore Lane in Marston.
She said: “I have not spoken to one person who is in favour of it. There is no wind in that area at all and I don’t know how they would propose to get down the narrow lanes.”
Farmer Steve Cox, aged 56, who runs Manor Farm in Marston, which has 400 cows, said he was worried about the effect of stray electricity on his cows as well as noise impact on them.
Margaret Jones, who lives in Birchmore Cottage in Marston, said: “I am totally against it, first of all for the noise, the effect it will have on the location and the devaluation of property. I fear the affect on wildlife and roads.”
Paul Grimshaw, development engineer and project manager for Wind Prospect, said extensive ecological surveys had been carried out and that minor alterations would be carried out on some roads, such as at corners and the widening of some verges.
He added: “This should be a really good opportunity for South Staffordshire to show how forward they are with green energy and fighting against climate change.”
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Developemnt engineers can’t take into account backward minded people. This kind of power could be our future, and hopefully provide cheaper power for us all. Unfortunately its the-NOT BY ME mentality!
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Well said, Jon.
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It’s not the “not by me” mentaility.
I suggest you do some reading up on the matter before classing a good number of people as being backward minded.
The majority of people against this proposal are concerned with serious health issues linked with close proximity of turbines.
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I’d say it’s more likely to be the devaluation of their property they are concerned about. I’m sure the developers and engineers know their jobs and health and safety has been taken into account.
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Actually if you do read up on the subject you will find it seems to be their property and the blot on the landscape that is their first concern and not health!
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we might just have to get used to them. If we all had a mini turbine, PV array and hot water solar cells, the problem would be lessened.
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People want these things but don’t realise that they have to be put somewhere. As for H&S, I am sure that all this has been taken into account. As st joe says, I think people are more concerned about “me,me,me”.
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I would much rather look out on to wind turbine’s than telephone mast’s or electricity pylons!
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Definately a case of not in my back yard reading the residents comments.
Wouldn’t like a few mobile phone masts and a few asylum seekers as well would you?
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A low whooshing noise was a problem with earlier models of wind turbines, but development has now made them very quiet indeed. What would you rather have? A coal burning power station and the enormous impact with associated rail link or thousands of lorries delivering coal or perhaps you would like to risk glowing in the dark with a nuclear power station on your doorstep.
Through selfish greed we have polluted and over populated this once beautiful planet and now we all have to pay the price.
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I have to say that I am very much on the side of the Locals in this issue! …….. whilst the implementation of greener forms of generation of energy is to be desired the disruption and degradation of peoples values to obtain it is to be avoided! ………
There is no doubt that people are concerned at the devaluing of there properties! …. just as Mr Paul Grimshaw would be cackling a lot of grease if someone erected a 413ft whirlygig on the lot across from his house! ……
We all hate change and Heavens Above this Country has been raped enough since the end of WW2! ……… but surely these behemoth’s can sited somewhere that would be less contentious and indeed more effective in the way of elevation to take advantage of wind as in watts per gust! …….. like the bottom of George Downing’s Street …… or would that be invoking more Me! Me! Me! culture! ……
Politicians, Developers, and Engineers are also eying costs and in doing so disregard peoples Emotions, Values and Well Being and at the end of the day isn’t that the very thing that their efforts are supposed to be purporting! ……
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Well said, Ms Crumbdiddly
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Jon/Joe – If you can show me somebody who would like one of these in close proximity to their home I’d be most surprised!
Whilst most people are in favour of green energy, most are also against blots on our landscape such as these wind turbines.
There are plenty of uninhabited areas where they could be sighted rather than in a semi rural area with such fine landscapes. There are also far more efficient and effective green energy solutions.
I’d be amazed if they got planning permission!
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I think you will find they already have the planning permission because its to do with being green and this is what the government wants. I agree that its unlikely people would really want one by them but people still buy houses,and new builds right by pylons so answer that one?
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