November 5, 2004
U.K.

Wind turbine lorry gets stuck in lane

Furious anti-wind turbine campaigners have described how a lorry
which will be used for transporting wind turbine components into
the Westcountry became jammed in a rural lane during a trial run
to Devon’s first windfarm.

As work on the Bradworthy site accelerated, residents in the small
community in North Devon said they had witnessed precisely the
scenes they had feared for months.

Members of Bradworthy Lobby Opposing Turbines (BLOT) said the
telescopic lorry got stuck for at least 20 minutes on a bend near
Chilsworthy.

Earlier this year, despite vociferous local campaigning, German firm
Energie Kontor won planning permission on appeal to install three
massive turbines at Forest Moor outside the village. Each will be
75m (246ft) high – as tall as Nelson’s Column.

One of the residents living closest to the windfarm at Bradworthy is
Marie Hutchings, who has lived on her farm for 18 years.

She said: “We saw exactly what we knew would happen.

“The lorries are going to cause unnecessary chaos on our region’s
roads. These are only small lanes and we don’t need this extra
blockage.

“Wednesday was a test run without the blades so I am still dubious
as to how they will really manage,” she said.

Fran Payne, another local campaigner, said: “To have nine lorries
going back and forth is bound to have an effect on other road users.
The lanes are very tight and this is not something our community is
used to coming up against.

“I am also concerned about the safety of the schoolchildren who
have to wait on the roadside for the bus. This is a matter I have
raised with the school transport department,” she said.

In October, the residents were left fuming as a large digger began
clearing farmland in preparation for the giant wind turbines.

Energie Kontor was yesterday unavailable for comment, but the
firm has always maintained the windfarm in Bradworthy will not
damage the environment as there is “no designated protected
landscape” near the site.

Mrs Hutchings added: “I really felt that common sense would
prevail and we wouldn’t end up with them.

“If I am affected by them in any way I am going to keep on fighting
my case.

“Yesterday I was told that they were actually quite elegant. I don’t
care if they look like a ballerina – they are obtrusive to the
countryside and the area in which I live,” she said.

Western Morning News

5 November 2004


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2004/11/05/wind-turbine-lorry-gets-stuck-in-lane/