March 3, 2011
England

Wind farm is earmarked for Melton airfield site

Melton Times, www.meltontimes.co.uk 3 March 2011

A wind farm is being considered to be built on Melton airfield.

Energy firm Nuon Renewables is looking into the possibility of building up to five turbines, up to 90m (295ft) high to the blade tip, on part of the site.

It aims to submit a planning application at the start of next year.

The developer has previously conducted a scoping exercise in 2009, setting out broad principles of its ideas, and put up a test mast in 2008 to gauge the site’s suitability.

And it has since completed more studies including background noise monitoring.

The developer had originally hoped to build up to six turbines (2MW class machines) with a maximum blade height of 126.5m (415ft).

But now it is considering a scheme based on smaller 1MW class machines after hearing that the Ministry of Justice would object if turbines were more than 90m high.

Nuon Renewables regional development manager Graham Davey met Burton and Dalby parish councillors on Thursday (Feb 24).

He said: “The next stage will be community engagement and consultation. We’re looking for the community to feed into the process so we can make the project as best fitting as we can.”

He added: “We’ve monitored background noise and we’re told it’s within the guidelines. We’re happy the background noise and turbine emissions are such that we can comply with 35 decibels.”

Mr Davey confirmed the maximum speed of the turbines would be 25 metres per second, the rota diameter would be 45-50 metres and that the turbines would be turning ‘most of the time’.

Councillors were also shown a map of the potential wind farm area showing the distance from properties.

A member of the public said: “The health impact is what I think is the most concerning.

“We need to be assured there’s no possibility anyone could be physically harmed by the building of these machines.”

Another villager asked if the firm would consider putting up a blimp to demonstrate the height of the turbines.

Other concerns raised included impact on property prices.

Councillor Gerald Digby said: “The big fear is the proximity of these turbines to where we live and the impacts of that. We will be as constructive as possible but we will fight these proposals if we have to.”

Mr Davey agreed the firm now needed to do some work towards re-assuring people before reporting back to the council.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/03/03/wind-farm-is-earmarked-for-melton-airfield-site/