Wind turbine anger in Burton Joyce
ANTI-WIND turbine campaigners in Burton Joyce have set up a group to fight plans for three turbines in nearby Stoke Bardolph.
Revolt (Resident Villagers Oppose Local Turbines) hope to thwart Severn Trent Water's proposal to build up to three 125m high turbines which will be 450 metres from people's homes.
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FUTURE SIGHT? A Severn Trent artist's impression of the turbines.
Both Revolt and Severn Trent debated the new wind farm at a public meeting called by Burton Joyce Parish Council.
David Wood, Severn Trent renewable energy development engineer, told 150 people at the meeting the turbines would be capable of powering more than 4,200 homes.
He said: "We are looking to generate more renewable energy. It will have a financial impact on our business but we are also concerned about the impact of climate change."
Severn Trent has yet to submit a planning application for the project.
Mr Wood said it was looking at whether the site was suitable by looking at the impact on residents, the villages, wildlife and the environment. He stressed no decisions had been made as yet.
Mr Wood said: "I can't sit here and say there will be a planning application or there won't be."
He added Severn Trent were keen to hear residents' views at this early stage of the proposal.
Possible issues include noise disturbance at night, shadow flicker from the blades causing a 'strobe-like' effect and the health and safety impact on the nearby Poplar's sports ground.
Byron Crawford, founder of Revolt, told the meeting: "We feel the proposal is entirely unsuitable. We hope that you as a community share our concerns and join with us to prevent this from going through."
Mr Crawford said the turbines could also affect house prices.
He added: "We haven't used scare tactics but what Severn Trent is proposing is very scary indeed."
Parish councillor Steve Cluff presented the results of a detailed study of the impact of wind farms, which included flying a microlight at turbine height, but said residents should make up their own minds.
Many said they were in favour of preventing climate change, but were concerned the turbines would have an impact on their daily lives. One woman, who did not want to be named, said she was concerned the turbine flicker, could make it hard for her epileptic daughter to visit.
She said: "I wasn't sure about them before as I actually think they look quite nice but after I heard about the noise and shadow flicker I've changed my mind."
Revolt members plan to talk to other groups which have battled wind farm applications for advice.
13 Comments
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by Andrew, Burton Joyce
Friday, November 27 2009, 9:47AM
“To usefully extract electrical power from the wind requires three primary things. Firstly, and most importantly, a high constant wind speed, secondly a machine that is capable of converting the power in the wind into electricity efficiently, and thirdly some way of conveying that electricity to where it can be used. Windmills have reached a high level of sophistication and the UK is very fortunate in that it has high constant wind speeds, but unfortunately these mainly occur around the shorelines of N. Ireland and Scotland i.e. in areas remote from where the power demand is the greatest and, critically, where the infrastructure for transporting that power (the National Grid) doesn't exist.
Putting windmills inshore in locations similar to Burton Joyce is like putting low grade petrol in a Formula One car and wondering why you didn't win the race. Windmills can only perform properly if given the right conditions, and what is required urgently is not advertising and political 'sops' deliberately visible to everyone but a properly co-ordinated programme to allow windfarms to make the really useful contribution they are capable of.”
by arthur, Not the City
Thursday, November 26 2009, 4:23PM
“Nimby-ism. Enough said.”
by Fat cyclist, Nottm
Thursday, November 26 2009, 11:13AM
“Its a classic case of "not on my door step".
But think about it logically;
Wind turbines reduce CO2 emissions, CO2 emissions cause global warming, global warming causes flooding in costal areas and river esturies. Now correct me if im wrong but im sure Burton Joyce is next to the River Trent and in a 'Flood Warning Area'
You'd think they'd support the plans really? rather than doing themselves no favours!”
by Captain Clifton, Nottingham
Thursday, November 26 2009, 11:05AM
“I have seen group[s like this formed a few times before. You talk to them and every single one of them, without exception will tell you "I'm all for protecting the environment but....." If you want to protect it, shut up and stop moaning. Previous comments have got it spot on, the impacts of climate change will have a much much much bigger impact on you than 3 wind turbines. Regarding noise, I never saw you with plackards (or however you spell it!) on the A612 complaing about the noise of lorries trudling through all day every day...”
by Fat cyclist, Nottm
Thursday, November 26 2009, 10:48AM
“People of Burton Joyce just arent happy unless they have something to moan about.
If its not Bus gates, its wind turbines.
You would think they'd have more important things to worry about really.”
by Paul, City
Thursday, November 26 2009, 10:45AM
“REVOLT - do you reckon they think up the acronym and then decide what it should stand for?
When I lived 'up north' ther was a campaign group against pylons also called REVOLT - Rural England Versus Overhead Line Transmission - didn't work and the power lines are there. They do spoil the view from Sutton Bank - a view described as Wordsworth as one of the most beautiful in Britain - not something you could really say about Burton Joyce...”
by Fat cyclist, Nottm
Thursday, November 26 2009, 10:37AM
“People in Burton Joyce are just snobs, and this proves it totally.
Does it really matter if a few windmills go up in the area, its not like they are noisey and they dont even look that bad.
I think maybe the people of Burton Joyce need to get down of their high horses, and start acting like grown ups.”
by Paul, Up Here
Thursday, November 26 2009, 10:19AM
“She said: "I wasn't sure about them before as I actually think they look quite nice but after I heard about the noise and shadow flicker I've changed my mind."
Translated - they are ok, just not near me.
I think turbines look great. You never know, it may even waft away the godawful pong in the area”
by Daz, Nottingham
Thursday, November 26 2009, 10:03AM
“The revolt group are a bunch of revolting NIMBYS.”
by Andrew, Bestwood Lodge
Thursday, November 26 2009, 9:29AM
“Brilliant news, good clean & cheap power, this is what we need, they look amazing too. I might start a petition to support them!”