October 1, 2011
Scotland

Bo’ness eco school’s turbine dream could be over

Bo'ness journal, www.bonessjournal.co.uk 1 October 2011

Disappointment was voiced this week that £3 million pioneering green school Deanburn Primary is unlikely to get a replacement wind turbine.

Its current £40,000 model has been out of use since late 2006 when a part fell off.

Manufacturer Proven Energy went into receivership a fortnight ago, with a closing date this week for potential buyers.

Falkirk Council’s head of educational resources, Gary Greenhorn, told the Journal and Gazette the Bo’ness turbine had effectively been decommissioned.

And he added: “New safety recommendations recently made suggest that similar turbines require a 180 m2 radius exclusion zone.

“This being the case it is unlikely a similar sized wind turbine can be installed in the grounds of Deanburn Primary School as there simply is not enough space to accommodate the exclusion zone.”

The local authority did not divulge how much, if any, of the £40,000 cost had been reclaimed.

A spokesman said as the council was currently in a legal dispute it was unable to give any more information.

Parent council chairwoman Gail Nash said: “Obviously in terms of health and safety the children’s safety is absolutely paramount.

“If there should be an exclusion zone I don’t think we can challenge that, but we are disappointed.”

Education committee member and Bo’ness councillor Ann Ritchie said it was disappointing news that after so long it had reached this point.

A parent council survey had shown the vast majority wanted it re-instated, she added.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/10/01/boness-eco-schools-turbine-dream-could-be-over/