February 16, 2014
England

Wind turbine ‘danger to life’ and an eyesore

Banbury Guardian | 16 February 2014 | www.banburyguardian.co.uk

Residents of three villages are warning of dangers to life if a 250-feet high wind turbine is built on their doorstep.

Villagers in Mollington, Shotteswell and Warmington fear planes from Shotteswell airstrip and summer balloon pleasure flights from Stratford upon Avon could be put at serious risk by the structure.

Residents are sending opinions to Cherwell District Council following a planning application from Murex Energy Limited for the turbine off March Lane, Mollington – some 200 metres from the M40 and within 700 metres of homes in the village.

Some posters put up by campaigning residents have been vandalised or torn down.

Paul Stephenson, chairman of Mollington Parish Council said: “They have not done any tests to measure the wind and are making (the application on) assumptions.

“The parish council will be reflecting the village’s opinions.

“We held a survey last summer and got responses from more than 50 per cent of the village, 95 per cent of whom were against the plan.” Mr Stephenson fears there could be a significant danger to pilots at Shotteswell airfield who use the motorway as a guide for landing.

Shotteswell parish councillor Val Ingram said developers were being encouraged by generous government subsidies and wind turbines should be built away from communities.

She said. “We’re not against green energy but we already have the motorway, which we didn’t want. Why should we have to take other unsightly structures?”

In an e-mail to Cherwell District Council, Mollington villager Shaun Greenslade-Hibbert said of the application: “Despite the proliferation of Say No signs, not everyone in Mollington objects to this opportunity for the village to do its bit to reduce carbon emissions.”

Nick Leaney, agent for Murex, said: “This form of diversification for farmers is encouraged by government.

“Murex will be investing more than £1,000,000 for this one turbine, which will have a life of 20 years.

“This size of turbine is not considered to be overbearing.

“National planning guidance says that communities should make a contribution, where appropriate, to renewable and low carbon energy.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/02/16/wind-turbine-danger-to-life-and-an-eyesore/