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Residents raise concerns over wind turbine proposal at Sharpness Docks
Credit: By Liza-Jane Gillespie, Gazette, www.gazetteseries.co.uk 20 January 2012 ~~
Proposals for a wind turbine in Sharpness are being met with objection from some residents.
Partnerships for Renewables, the company behind plans to erect a 122-metre high turbine in Sharpness Docks, met with members of the local community again this week.
The drop-in session, held at the Dockers Club on Monday, coincided with the company’s application to Stroud District Council for the turbine.
The application, which can be viewed in full on the council’s website, has already received almost 30 comments, half of which are objections.
Local people against the proposal have raised concerns about noise pollution, the size of the structure, effect on house prices, possible injury to migrating birds heading for Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and its proximity to people’s homes.
Mark Hunt, who lives in nearby Hinton, said: “The facts are that the proposed turbine is twice as large as any other structure on the site and will cause noise nuisance problems for many who live locally.”
Claire Pearce, who lives in Sharpness, said: “The noise will be awful, especially at night, and the structure that I will be able to see out of my back windows will be unsightly.
“Another thing I wonder about is the impact on the wildlife in the area.”
Speaking to the Gazette this week Stuart Barnes, communications manager for Partnerships for Renewables, said the turbine had the potential to produce enough electricity to power 700 to 1,000 homes.
He said: “Typically with turbines applications they have the ability to divide opinion.
“Hopefully the work we have done, having these public events every couple of months for two years means people have an understanding.”
Local people objecting to the application also highlighted the Wind Turbine Bill, which is at committee stage in the House of Lords and recommends statutory distances from residential homes.
If the Bill were to become law, which could take several years, a turbine of 122 metres could be no closer than 2,000 metres to a house.
Mr Barnes said: “As developers we have to be aware of policy proposals. We also know that central government is favourable towards renewables. A lot of the bills that have been proposed have been from backbenchers or private members which fail to get enough support.”
If the turbine gets permission Mr Barnes said there would a community benefit fund for the Sharpness people to use, which would include up to £5,000 a year for the turbine’s 25-year life span.
For more information on the application and to comment visit ww.stroud.gov.uk
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