October 24, 2007
England
England
A wind farm set to be created between two villages will end up being a white elephant which does little to tackle global warming.
That is the view of Steve Money who lives on a farm in Walcote near to land between the village and Swinford where 18 120 metre turbines have been earmarked for.
He told us the height of the turbines – just eight metres shorter than the arch at the new Wembley Stadium – would have a negative visual impact in Lutterworth, Gilmorton, North Kilworth, Stanford and even Rugby.
“The site is the highest point in south Leicestershire and the existing pylons on the site can already be seen from three counties,” Mr Money added.
“Unless we unite and oppose this development we will quickly discover that we have a huge white elephant in our midst, contributing little to the reduction in global warming with each turbine saving roughly the equivalent of one HGV’s CO2 emissions.
“It will add nothing positive to the local economy, but the vandalism to our country side and negative impact on our lives will be irreversible.”
Nuon Renewables, the Cornwall-based company behind the wind farm plans, held the exhibition in Swinford village hall last Thursday and Friday.
Almost 300 people visited the exhibition and the company said it would now review the feedback before submitting a planning application next year.
A spokesman added: “This is the start of the consultation process and further feedback from residents would be welcomed.”
Some of the key points put forward by the company included the advantages the farm would bring including reducing CO2 emissions by 46,000 tonnes per year and helping the UK reach its 2010 energy targets.
Wind speed in the area is to be measured using an anemometer mast which is being put up outside Swinford and the data will be correlated with previous readings to ensure the site is suitable for wind turbines.
Ward district councillor John Everett has set up a web-site www.mistertonwindfarm.info to help people find information about the plans and said so far he had received a trickle of responses but was still waiting before he could more accurately gauge public opinion toward the wind farm.
24 October 2007
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/10/24/wind-farm-plans-savaged/