Larnaca locals protest wind farm plan for outskirts of town
Residents of Psevdas have protested against the Community Council’s decision to move ahead with the creation of a wind park south of the community.
Locals met on Wednesday afternoon to demonstrate against the Community Council’s decision. The plan involves the installation and the operation of three wind turbines on a hillside around three kilometres away from the residential area of Psevdas.
According to the Larnaca Press News Agency, during the demonstration a document was revealed showing that the Council’s decision was affected by the promise of community benefits from the private company responsible for implementing the wind park.
Allegedly €80,000 would be made available for improving community works including the completion of the new community church of Ayios Ioannis Theologos.
Cyprus Greens Party leader, George Perdikis, called on the government to revise their policy in choosing the appropriate locations for the creation of wind parks.
“The government is not following the correct policy on this issue and it has failed in finding the right areas available,” he said.
“We are all for the creation of wind parks because Cyprus should and can build them, but they need to be created in the appropriate way. The people of Psevdas are protesting because there is a lack of information,” he said. Perdikis added that locals don’t trust the procedures followed for the wind parks.
“People are not animals so that a decision can be imposed on them.”
He added, “All citizens – not only the residents of Psevdas – need to be correctly informed and included in the decisions.” He said information is vital in communicating and cooperating with citizens.
Perdikis also mentioned the problems that may arise due to the creation of wind parks. “There are various problems such as noise pollution, the threat to birds (because of the danger of collision with the turbines), the presence of electromagnetic fields but also the problem of aesthetics and appearance of the masts,” he said.
He added that areas allocated for the creation of wind parks must be studied and chosen carefully.
“According to my information, the area near Psevdas has no wind power potential and is not one of the most appropriate areas for the production of wind energy.”
Environmental Commissioner, Charalambos Theopemptou, disagreed and said that “a wind power potential has been recorded in the area, allowing for the positioning of small turbines – and not the 100m-tall ones found abroad – in order to exploit it.”
“The people are mainly worried that the value of their lands there will diminish,” he said. Theopemptou added that locals might also be concerned for the noise produced but now with the new generators there is a reduction in noise production.
“The community is situated kilometres away from the proposed wind park.”
Theopemptou rejected claims relating to the destruction of land due to the wind parks.
He did however confirm that the community will receive economic benefits from these operations.
Pseudas Community Council President, Friksos Michail, said the approval for the installation of three wind turbines was taken with five votes for and two against.
“A portion of the residents is reacting because they feel their land is being destroyed along with their wealth and health,” Michail said.
He also said that according to research undertaken by the Cyprus University of Technology (TEPAK) there is no danger at least as far as health is concerned.
“They won’t discuss the environment because it is a cattle-breeding area not one with plant growth, and it is three kilometres away from the residential area, on the border with the sanitary landfills,” he concluded.
By Maria-Christina Doulami
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
