February 9, 2011
England

Wind turbine ‘to blight landscape’

Eastwood & Kimberley Advertiser, www.eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk 9 February 2011

Residents and councillors are up-in-arms about plans for a wind turbine in Giltbrook.

They say the 430 foot-high turbine would be a ‘monstrous intrusion’ to the countryside and a ‘gross’ waste of money.

If planning was given the go-ahead, the wind turbine in greenbelt land off Halls Lane, would be visible from as far away as Ilkeston, Cossall and Langley Mill.

Reg Lowe of Commons Close, Newthorpe said: “It’s going to stand out like a sore thumb. It’s huge.

“It would be a visual obstruction and totally out of scale with everything in the Erewash Valley.”

Mr Lowe said he was also concerned about the potential noise.

“You get told there’s not any but I don’t believe it. You get people who live near them complaining.”

A local councillor, who did not want to be named, said: “It will be an ugly monstrous intrusion into the countryside.

“It’s fields all the way to Ilkeston and a lot of people enjoy walks and the fresh air.

“It would be a travesty if they went ahead with this.”

The councillor said it was a ‘great shame’ for the Erewash Valley, especially after a battle was won just a few years ago to stop opencast mining on the land.

He said there was a lot of wildlife in the area which would be at risk and the sight of the turbine could distract passing drivers.

“There’s kestrels, buzzards and sparrow hawks around there and birds often get caught up in the rotor blades.

“And how many people will look at it as they are driving along? There will be accidents.”

The councillor called the plans a ‘gross’ waste of money.

“The cost of it far, far, far out-weighs the benefits,” he said.

“They cost millions and supply a minuscule amount of power. If they get their feet in the door, how many more will they want? That’s the concern.”

A planning application was submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council last month to put the wind turbine at the site of the Severn Trent sewage treatment works.

The turbines would generate 3.3 megawatts of electricity – equivalent to the annual electricity needs of 1,857 homes – and would be used to power the sewage treatment works.

It would be more than 600m away from the nearest house.

Kimberley councillor Richard Robinson held a public meeting yesterday, Thursday, February 3 to discuss the proposals with planners and local residents.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/02/09/wind-turbine-to-blight-landscape/