June 3, 2012
England

Turbine transport crash was ‘accident waiting to happen’

Northumberland Gazette, www.northumberlandgazette.co.uk 3 June 2012

A wind-turbine transporter which crashed on a winding Northumberland road was an ‘accident waiting to happen’, according to the local county councillor.

Rothbury division’s Coun Steven Bridgett hit out after the A696 south of Otterburn was closed when the massive vehicle – which was carrying a turbine shaft – clipped the kerb and ended up on its side in a ditch on Monday morning. It is understood to have been heading for the Green Rigg windfarm site near Ridsdale.

“We have said all along that Northumberland’s roads – even some of its A-roads – are not capable of handling these kinds of loads,” said Coun Bridgett. “It’s absolute madness, an accident waiting to happen. This is the real risk of putting wind turbines in some of the most hard-to-reach places in Northumberland. What else can you expect to happen on roads like these?”

He added: “This is yet another inconvenience for local people who never wanted these turbines in the first place.”

Northumbria Police said: “The lorry which was carrying wind turbine parts shed its load on to the road and due to the size and weight of the load, the road will be closed for up to two days to allow for it to be safely removed.”

Diversions are in place at Kirkhall and South Elishaw to take traffic over the A68.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/03/turbine-transport-crash-was-accident-waiting-to-happen/