July 9, 2008
England

Wind farm scheme given go-ahead

A £6million project to surround a Suffolk town with four giant wind turbines has been given the green light.

The scheme, which will be built along the A14 around Ipswich, was given the thumbs up at a meeting of the executive branch of the borough council last night.

Councillors also agreed on three preferred sites for the development, which is thought will generate 4% of the town’s renewable energy.

Two of the colossal 125m structures have been earmarked for land around Thorrington Hall, Belstead, near to the sewage treatment works.

A further 125m turbine is due to be built in the Ravenswood area of Ipswich near the Shell garage on the A14 while a further 61.5m turbine is being lined up near the Bury Road park and ride site.

Last night’s meeting also agreed to fund the project – with each turbine costing up to £1.5m – through a private finance option.

A tender is due to go out on the first turbine to gauge the interest in taking up the project, but Louise Gooch, councillor responsible for environment at Ipswich Borough Council, said she had already had calls from interested parties.

She said: “I’m really, really excited about the project. We have been working on this for upwards of a year now and the sites have been chosen very carefully for their environmental impact.

“But we also want the turbines to be landmarks as well. We hear a lot about Suffolk as the greenest county but having the turbines around Ipswich sends out a message that we care about our environment and are determined to put our money where our mouth is.”

Six sites had originally been considered in the report put before the executive but it was decided that, with the A14 nearby to offset noise and being largely away from high populated areas, the three preferred sites would be best suited.

Russell Claydon

East Anglian Daily Times

9 July 2008


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/07/09/wind-farm-scheme-given-go-ahead/