May 8, 2014
England

Blimp flown at village wind turbine site by campaign group

Melton Times | 06 May 2014 | www.meltontimes.co.uk

Campaigners opposed to a planned 220ft wind turbine on land at Upper Broughton flew a blimp on Tuesday to illustrate the scale of the proposed structure.

Members of Voices Against Turbines raised money for the helium-filled barrage balloon in a bid to support their contention that the turbine would spoil the Vale of Belvoir landscape.

Group member Jane Fraser said: “It’s difficult to get a full picture because the blimp is only 8.5m long and the blades of the turbine will be 54m but it was shocking to see how much it stood out above the Belvoir Ridge.

“It was well worth doing because we now have photographic evidence to compare with the applicant’s montage of pictures when the planning committee looks at it.

“The application document only shows photographic evidence taken from the Wolds side of the site and there has been nothing from the Vale of Belvoir side until now.”

The campaign organisation held an information meeting last month, at which cabinet minister and Rushcliffe MP Ken Clarke gave his backing to their stance.

Members registered their opposition last week to the scheme’s applicants, the Diocese of Southwell, by staging a silent protest at Southwell Minster, while the diocese was hosting a national conference of Deans, local dignitaries and the Archbishop of York at an evensong service.

The diocese say the application, which it predicts would result in 497 homes being powered every year for 20 years, was made in a bid to maximise its assets to pay for clergy. It sympathises with the concerns of local people but said it had carried out extensive consultation.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/08/blimp-flown-at-village-wind-turbine-site-by-campaign-group/