Turbine bid back…
Lynn’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital has renewed its bid for an 80-metre wind turbine after the trailblazing scheme was rejected by council planners last year.
If the latest application, submitted by green energy company Ecotricity, is approved, the Gayton Road hospital would become one of the first in the country to generate its own energy by harnessing nature.
It is hoped the turbine, to be erected in the hospital grounds, will reduce the hospital’s energy bills as well as its carbon footprint.
West Norfolk Council turned down the previous application in April last year following objections from the Air Ambulance and Defence Estates (part of the Ministry of Defence) amid concerns the turbine would affect radar detection of aircraft by RAF Marham.
Both issues were later resolved, but an appeal launched by Ecotricity was thrown out by the planning inspector who said there was not enough evidence to show protected species of wild birds would not be adversely affected.
A wild bird survey has since been carried out and the latest application is supported by further evidence the turbine will not be harmful to the 49 species birds living and feeding at the 47-acre site.
If the turbine goes ahead, it could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 600 homes and hopefully save the hospital around £26,000 in energy bills every year.
By DW
7 April 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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