March 15, 2013
England

Crane collapse sparks concern

Lancashire Evening Post | 15 March 2013 | www.lep.co.uk

This was the scene moments after a crane toppled to the ground at the site of a controversial £5.5m wind farm plan.

The accident happened during the construction of two giant wind turbines at Orchard End wind farm on land outside Eagland Hill, near Pilling.

Residents who live near the site, off Skitham Lane, say they believe the instability of the marshland is to blame for the accident.

REG Windpower, the firm behind the wind farm plan, said they could not speculate on the cause but said the highest part of the crane, used to access the top of the turbine, had already been taken off before the incident happened

Communications manager Ian Lawrence said: “We had a problem with part of a crane while it was being moved and it was not involved with lifting.

“Noone was injured and there was no damage to anything property outside the wind farm site. We are grateful for the patience local residents have shown throughout the project and aim to complete the work without significant delay.”

Sandra and John Matthews live at Woodlands Country Park off Skitham Lane , Pilling. Their lodge home overlooks the Moss site where the crane fell.

Mr Matthews said: “What I’m concerned about is if it’s toppled over with it all being on peat is it going to affect anything on this side (on the Woodlands Country Park site)? Is it (the turbine) going to survive or is it going to start leaning?”

But the company’s Mr Lawrence said the crane was in an access track which had been laid over the moss, so it was not directly going over the moss.

He said: “The turbines are anchored to the ground in concrete foundations which obviously a moving crane isn’t.

“While ground conditions are different everywhere and present different challenges it would be completely and utterly erroneous to draw any conclusion about the safety of wind farm from the fact had problems with the crane.”

He added the firm should know within a week the expected completion date.

Roads were closed around Nateby for several days last week as sections of the wind turbines were delivered.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/15/crane-collapse-sparks-concern/