Turbines will be a huge blow to us all
Western Morning News, 20 August 2010
The critique of David Haskell by correspondent Cllr Bob Egerton endeavoured to carry the message that the hard fact of viewing wind turbines on travels through Cornwall is something that should be regarded as a modern expectancy on the landscape.
It is all very well stating that oil rigs, refineries, tarmac roads and other industrial developments are part of the scene, but if one looks at the number of jobs these created and maintained, and are essential for an industrialised country, the public accepts them for what they perform.
I realise that wind turbines have created many jobs in their manufacture (but not in Britain), and in the building and installation of them in our countryside (many jobs for overseas workers temporarily) but when the deed is done, how many jobs are there then? I remember a company responsible for servicing the turbines stating they would create “one and quarter jobs” for Bears Down 16-turbine wind farm.
The fact the turbines do not perform to supplying anything really worthwhile does not seem to come into the equation with the people who allow them in the first place, basically because they have not studied the truth about the disgrace they are.
As Cllr Egerton was looking backwards, how about looking forward into a situation that Denmark and Germany have already found themselves in.
They pushed on down a stupidly green route of manufacturing and building wind farms, covered their landscapes, and gradually lost 40- 50 per cent of their tourism in rural locations.
Many B&Bs, small hotels and self-catering units similar to those in Cornwall are closing down altogether. In Copenhagen of course they will not talk about wind farms, and counter any questions by saying Denmark is not a wind country, you will like it here. The plain facts are all there, and if Cornwall allows those in the wind industry to ravage our landscape for their utter greed and minute amounts of power, then the main income support of our county will be broken off.
Pembrokeshire is in a similar situation to Cornwall, and David Haskell must be appreciated in his forward looking view on what is happening.
Alan J Nunn
St Austell
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/08/20/turbines-will-be-a-huge-blow-to-us-all/