December 8, 2011
England

Aerial protest shows height of wind turbines

Andrew Dickens, www.cambridge-news.co.uk 8 December 2011

Wind farm protesters took their campaign to the sky.

Members of the Stop Common Barn Wind Farm group flew a helicopter at 126 metres over Common Barn in Southoe, near St Neots, to illustrate the height of three proposed wind turbines at the site.

Developer TCI Renewables is in talks to build the turbines to a maximum height of 126 metres.

Campaigners made the 15-minute helicopter flight to highlight the visual impact on the surrounding area.

Sandro Proietti, campaigner and Southoe resident, said: “We wanted to raise attention to what a terrible impact this development would have on the surrounding villages.

“The flight was a huge success, so many people came out from the village in support.

“We had a dozen photographers dotted around at various points taking pictures up to the helicopter, so we have a great impression of the scale now.

“I also had an opportunity to go up in the helicopter and was astonished by how far you could see and in turn how far the turbines will be visible.

“I did not realise how exposed Perry, Grafham, Hail Weston, Buckden, Little Paxton and parts of St Neots would be, in addition to Southoe.

“The pilot said that visibility was perfect and a constant breeze allowed him to hover at the right height with ease.”

TCI Renewables said the turbines could generate enough electricity to supply almost 4,000 households in the surrounding villages of Southoe, Hail Weston, Great Staughton, Perry, Grafham, Buckden, Great Paxton and Little Paxton.

But the action group is concerned about falling house prices and the possibility of a decline in the number of rare birds living at Paxton Pits Nature Reserve and Grafham Water.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/12/08/aerial-protest-shows-height-of-wind-turbines/