June 5, 2014
England

Does Dorchester care about turbine plans?

By Trevor Bevins | View From Online | 5th June 2014 | www.viewfrompublishing.co.uk

“Wake up Dorchester” – that’s the message from anti wind turbine campaigners to the county town.

The group, which is opposing plans for turbines off Slyer’s Lane to the north of Dorchester town centre, say they will be clearly visible, and possible heard, from many north-facing roads both in Dorchester itself and Poundbury.

Yet spokesman Keith Simmons said there had been little concern, or interest, from many Dorchester residents to the proposals for what he describes as “industrial-scale” turbines each approaching 370 feet tall.

Broadview, the company behind the proposals for six turbines of 115metres each, claims that public opinion is roughly 60 to 40 in favour of the development.

Tom Cosgrove, Development Manager at Broadview Energy, said in Dorchester this week that the proposed turbines had been reduced from seven to six and from 125metres to 115metres as a result of feedback from the public.

“It’s all about the right balance. We need to generate as much electricity as we can from the site while taking local views into account. We believe we now have the right balance, but we are still consulting local people so it could change again.”

Mr Cosgrove also said he believed that by having the turbines close to the area where the power will be used it gave a positive statement about renewable energy.

He also revealed that local people will be offered the chance to buy shares in the development.

The application for the site is expected to be submitted within the next three months.

Mr Simmons said at one of the exhibitions held by the company last week that he was surprised people in Dorchester and Poundbury had been so apathetic towards the proposals.

“They need to wake up to what is happening…they will be clearly seen from large parts of Dorchester and Poundury. People don’t seem to grasp just how big they are. To have these industrial scale turbines in Hardy country is indefensible.”

In a statement issued by the No Slyers Lane Turbines group they claim that the UK has already reached its EU-set target for renewable energy.

“The only justifiable reason for building these turbines here is financial gain.”

The campaign group, which is mainly funded by individual donations, has paid for photomontages of what the turbines might look like as part of its campaign to raise awareness.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/06/05/does-dorchester-care-about-turbine-plans/