Wind blades fell in school yard; Raasay children sent home after 50ft turbine collapsed
Children at an island primary were sent home after a newly-installed wind turbine next to their school collapsed, it emerged yesterday.
Parents of youngsters at the 18-pupil Raasay Primary School were asked to collect their children following the incident on November 13.
The 50ft turbine will “remain out of commission” until an investigation has been carried out.
The 6KW machine was installed at the school earlier this month, but was soon the subject of complaints due to the noise it was making.
The turbine then collapsed, landing in the school’s playground, although no one was hurt.
A Highland Council spokesman confirmed that a meeting was held between representatives from the authority and school staff yesterday.
He said an independent appraisal of the turbine would now be carried out and that the blades would be removed within the next few days.
The spokesman added: “At a meeting on Raasay the council gave an assurance that there will be full consultation with the local community before the equipment is brought back into operation. The council installed the wind turbine at Raasay Primary School to reduce energy bills at the school through the introduction of renewable energy source on the island.”
Skye and Raasay councillor John Laing said: “It was hugely dangerous, there’s no doubt about that, and it’s fortunate that no one was injured. There will be an investigation, but it appears that there was some fault with the turbine.”
The energy generated by the turbine was expected to help provide heating and lighting in the school, and help towards slashing electricity bills.
The turbine was installed in a £32,000 project earlier this month, with half of the money being provided by a Scottish Government grant.
Similar turbines are currently in use or proposed at a number of schools in the Highlands
The Press and Journal
21 November 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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