January 6, 2013
England

Ford turbine protestors’ inflatable blown away in high winds

BBC News | 5 January 2013 | www.bbc.co.uk

An inflatable zeppelin used by Buckinghamshire protestors to show the height of a planned wind turbine has been blown away in strong gusts.

Campaigners gathered at the site in Ford, near Aylesbury to release the airship-shaped “blimp” to the turbine’s 99m height.

They had previously said one of the reasons they opposed the turbine was the lack of wind to power it.

Aylesbury Vale District Council is due to make a decision on 17 January.

The Say No And Protest (SNAP) campaign is concerned the turbine would be taller than Big Ben, ruin the natural landscape of the Vale of Aylesbury and the Chilterns and would not be efficient.

They also believe it would be noisy and could lead to a decrease in nesting birds and held a demonstration at the site on Friday.

Famer and applicant Jeremy Elgin said he was hopeful that planning permission would be granted.

If built, the single turbine would power his farm and 350 homes, he added.

“Cutting through the smoke screen of objections, the overriding issue is that of the possible effect on house prices,” he said.

“I am convinced that onshore wind has to be amongst the most cost effective form of generation [of power]. ”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/01/06/ford-turbine-protestors-inflatable-blown-away-in-high-winds/