December 15, 2006
U.K.

Neighbours whip up turbine storm

A storm of protest is brewing over a company’s plans to build a giant wind turbine.

People living near the Princes Soft Drinks plant in Tong, Bradford, believe it will blight their lives and homes.

Raymond Stock, 77, says the proposed 400ft turbine would tower above his house in Toftshaw Lane, East Bierley, which is next to the factory.

He also fears the turbine could sound like a car travelling at 60mph.

Mr Stock is writing to Bradford Council and plans to start a petition to try to stop it.

He said: “There is all the noise we have had to put up with, and now they are putting this thing up.
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“I have complained to the Council before about noise from the factory.

“I already have to endure the forklift trucks beeping their horns at all times as they operate around the site, the wagons beeping as they reverse and the extractor fans that are continuously running as Princes operates over a 24-hour period, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year.”

Mr Stock, who has lived at his house for more than 20 years, said he planted trees and installed double glazing to block out the noise.

He has also complained that, despite living next to the site, he was never consulted about the turbine, which is intended to cut carbon dioxide emissions at the plant.

Mr Stock’s neighbour Michael Appleyard is urging people to write to the Council to object to the turbine.

Mr Appleyard, 58, said: “I visited 24 homes on Sunday and everyone I spoke to was against it. We are concerned both about the noise and the visual impact. This would have to be one of the biggest wind turbines in the country.”

Howard Moss, of Raikes Lane, East Bierley, said: “I am appalled Princes would even think about putting in planning permission for a 400ft turbine in a residential area.

“Besides the size of the thing, people will have their quality of life badly affected by the noise of the blades.

“This application must be turned down at the pre-planning stage.”

Princes says the £2 million turbine would prevent five and a half thousand tonnes of carbon dioxide being pumped into the air every year. If planning permission is granted, it could be up and running by 2008.

Visible from the M62, its tower would stand 262ft tall and its height to the tip of the top blade would be almost 400ft.

The project has been shown to people at a series of roadshows across Bradford.

A company spokesman said: “We have carried out an environmental noise impact assessment and the levels generated by the turbine are below all the required noise levels for daytime and evening operation”.

By Jenny Loweth

thisisbradford.co.uk


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/12/15/neighbours-whip-up-turbine-storm/