September 12, 2007
England
England
Dozens of residents packed into a village hall to discuss a supermarket giant’s plans for a wind turbine at its Northampton depot.
Asda had been invited to speak to people living in Great Houghton to discuss plans for a wind turbine it wants to build at Brackmills.
About 100 people from Great Houghton and nearby villages attended the meeting, which Asda had hoped would be in the form of a public exhibition.
Residents asked questions of the company, such as the amount of noise the turbine would make, during a lively meeting at Great Houghton Village Hall.
Rod Jeakings, of Great Houghton Parish Council, who invited Asda to present its plans to the community, told the meeting: “The parish council is unanimously against the proposal.
“We will attack this from the planning aspect…it’s got to be done properly.”
Mr Jeakings cited problems including noise, vibrations, impact on the siting, the effect on house prices and whether there would be a knock-on effect of more turbines.
During the meeting, Asda invited people to write down their thoughts on the proposal, which would see a 127-metre turbine sited on its depot. The supermarket will include these submissions with its planning application.
Tom McGarry, property communications manager for Asda, said: “We want to bring everybody here to take on your views.
“We need this to do a report on our consultation to the local planning authority for a subjective response.
“You might just not like it and therefore you can say that to the local planning authority.”
Mr McGarry reminded residents the application had not yet been submitted.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr McGarry said the planning case would make it clear the turbine was being planned for green reasons.
The proposed turbine would generate two megawatts of energy a year, enough to heat 11,000 homes.
Asda would see no capital investment from the £2million turbine for six years.
12 September 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/09/12/villagers-vow-to-fight-wind-turbine/