July 28, 2011
England

Anti-wind turbine group step up their campaign against proposal for Walkers in Skelmersdale

by Michael Byrne, Skelmersdale Advertiser, www.osadvertiser.co.uk

Campaigners fighting against a proposal to put a wind turbine on top of the Walkers Factory in Skelmersdale have come up with a raft of documents which they say back their health concerns.

Last week the Advertiser reported that a campaign group had been set up to try and block the plan for a 125-metre structure on the building.

They fear noise from the turbines will disrupt sleep patterns, which could lead to high blood pressure in adults, a major contributor to a number of illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes.

Simon Ely, Site Leader, Walkers Snack Foods, Skelmersdale, told us that the firm would not be putting this proposal forward if there were any scientific evidence to suggest that it might have any adverse effect on the health of the local community.

In response, campaigner Alan Horridge sent the Advertiser reports written by bodies such as the National Academies of Science and the National Institutes of Health which they say back up their fears.

Mr Horridge said: “Does the company not know of or does he dismiss this scientific evidence? There is a Bill going through Parliament at present – the Wind Turbines Bill – which proposes a set back distance from residential property of a turbine of this size should be 2km. Do PepsiCo know about this? If they do then why do they think it is being discussed in Parliament? Should the people of Skelmersdale now expect to see PepsiCo withdraw their plans?”

The campaigners have launched a petition and set up their own email address for people to contact them, regarding the battle.

The email address is noturbineinskem@aol.co.uk

A PepsiCo spokesman said: “We want to meet with the campaigners to discuss their concerns.”

There are more details about the application on the website www.skelmersdalewind turbine.co.uk.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/07/28/anti-wind-turbine-group-step-up-their-campaign-against-proposal-for-walkers-in-skelmersdale/