Turbulence over wind farm plans (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Turbulence over wind farm plans
2:30pm Monday 23rd August 2010 in News By Scott D'Arcy
Residents have launched a protest against the proposed three turbines
THE battle over the installation of three new turbines at Honda’s Swindon plant took a new twist last week as a parish council voiced its objections to the plan.
South Marston Parish Council unanimously agreed at a meeting last Tuesday to oppose the proposal for three 120m-high wind turbines, to be situated several hundred metres from residential housing.
It follows a decision by Stratton St Margaret Parish Council to support the plan after a brief representation from South Marston campaign group Ill Wind.
Stuart Young, the vice-chairman of the parish council, said: “Although supportive of the concept of renewable energy generation, we wanted to ensure that we understood the rationale behind this application and the arguments for and against.
“Consequently, we have attended a number of meetings with concerned villagers, including a large public event that attracted more than 125 people, as well as visiting the proposed sites at Honda.
“We have also conducted our own independent research on the Internet.”
“We will also be asking that the parish council is given the opportunity to speak at the Swindon Borough Council planning meeting.”
Neil Burchell, the chairman of Ill Wind, said: “I’m very pleased that the parish council took the time and the attention to review the application in detail and assess the impact.
“They certainly listened to the views of the residents.”
Representatives from the group, South Marston Parish Council and Swindon North MP Justin Tomlinson met those from Honda and wind energy firm Ecotricity last Thursday to discuss the turbines.
Sam Tipper, the head of corporate communications at Honda, said: “Together with Ecotricity, Honda of the UK Manufacturing has spent a number of months conducting detailed environmental studies as part of the planning process for the installation of three wind turbines at the Swindon plant.
“In June, we started the most important part of the proposal: Sharing our plans with the local community.
“We welcome any feedback from local residents during this planning application period.
“We have always been open and worked with the local community and would welcome them at Honda at any time.
“It is important to us that we are always open with the residents.”
Justin Tomlinson said: “They were extremely open and transparent and it was a very productive meeting.
“There were a lot of technical questions and a lot of technical answers that came back.
“It was not a meeting where either side was expecting an agreement but it was positive and the residents used the opportunity to voice their understandable concerns.”
Comments(30)
Mr_Spunk
says...
3:04pm Mon 23 Aug 10
WiltshireLeppard
says...
3:26pm Mon 23 Aug 10
It is a way of making money, nothing else. Even the company who built the big wind farm near Bridgend in South Wales have since said it's a cash cow, and the turbines are only on for about four hours a day producing minimal green energy.
As for Mr. ****, I'd like to see how you would react if a turbine was built very near to your house.
dc the 2nd
says...
3:38pm Mon 23 Aug 10
WiltshireLeppard wrote:Wait so they are only on for four hours a day and they still make money? That sounds fantastic you've convinced me, i'm all for it now.
Sadly, the 'Green Drive' is an EU initiative, and they can over-rule the local and national governments.
It is a way of making money, nothing else. Even the company who built the big wind farm near Bridgend in South Wales have since said it's a cash cow, and the turbines are only on for about four hours a day producing minimal green energy.
As for Mr. ****, I'd like to see how you would react if a turbine was built very near to your house.
mr_fix_it
says...
3:50pm Mon 23 Aug 10
Hmmmf
says...
4:03pm Mon 23 Aug 10
Gooey
says...
4:32pm Mon 23 Aug 10
Wind energy is free and should be embraced.I think they look good too.
Robfm
says...
8:17pm Mon 23 Aug 10
itsamess
says...
9:03pm Mon 23 Aug 10
Always Grumpy
says...
10:21pm Mon 23 Aug 10
Robfm wrote:Perhaps they do and that's why they are against them.
Such a shame that the PC do not have a clue about the science and the truth.
As far as I'm concerned they are inefficient monstrosities.
sun_set
says...
10:28pm Mon 23 Aug 10
Gooey wrote:I agree, they stand tall are efficient and are much better than the more common traditional types of power stations that are a drain on our natural recources!
I'd like to see more of these all over our landscape.
Wind energy is free and should be embraced.I think they look good too.
Robfm
says...
8:15am Tue 24 Aug 10
Just a thought
says...
11:29am Tue 24 Aug 10
I say good luck to Honda, I cannot imagine that they would invest in these turbines if there was not a good environmental and financial benefit.
If the financial side of it is subsidised so what? Remember when everyone was clambering to get cars converted to take the all new unleaded petrol? We did that because it was cheaper to buy, then, once we had all ‘converted’ the price crept back up – sometimes there has to be an incentive to get people to act.
Always Grumpy
says...
12:22pm Tue 24 Aug 10
Robfm wrote:They're obviously not as well informed as South Marston PC!
AG but Stratton PC are in favour and they are closer to them.
Robfm
says...
12:31pm Tue 24 Aug 10
Very few by modern ones. Set that against the 1 billion birds killed collectively by man made structures, one of the highest being domestic glass. Perhaps we ought to not have windows.
politicrat
says...
12:59pm Tue 24 Aug 10
Always Grumpy
says...
1:33pm Tue 24 Aug 10
politicrat wrote:A typically stupid comment from Poliprat. Where have you been recently? I had hoped you'd cleared off to China, as promised.
If the Honda plant is finding it so difficult to make the necessary operating changes required to sustain/improve its profitability then maybe it is time for Honda to look at relocation options.....I am sure there would be plenty of villages happy to accomodate such an employer.
Always Grumpy
says...
1:36pm Tue 24 Aug 10
Robfm wrote:If your only concern is the number of birds killed, then you should be campaigning for the extermination of domestic cats, which kill around 250 million birds in the UK alone each year. Now, that's one cause I would join you in supporting.
What you mean facts like wind turbines in the US kill about 75000 birds a year but most of these are killed by the old lattice style ones.
Very few by modern ones. Set that against the 1 billion birds killed collectively by man made structures, one of the highest being domestic glass. Perhaps we ought to not have windows.
Robfm
says...
1:51pm Tue 24 Aug 10
I suspect of course that if one of the protesters found bats in their roof space they'd soon want them 'removed'.
I simply do not believe the 'harm' hype.
politicrat
says...
2:23pm Tue 24 Aug 10
Always Grumpy wrote:be careful what you wish for folks, I would say to you, you may well have the last word on this one, but Honda will not forget and it will come a time when it will simply be easier to relocate production than making difficult investments in Swindon.
politicrat wrote: If the Honda plant is finding it so difficult to make the necessary operating changes required to sustain/improve its profitability then maybe it is time for Honda to look at relocation options.....I am sure there would be plenty of villages happy to accomodate such an employer.A typically stupid comment from Poliprat. Where have you been recently? I had hoped you'd cleared off to China, as promised.
Slovakia and Hungary have very strong car manufacturing heritage and high skills for half the cost of british workers.
Always Grumpy
says...
5:23pm Tue 24 Aug 10
Robfm wrote:I have heard that bat droppings have excellent thermal insulation properties and an inch of droppings is worth 4 inches of glass fibre. Personally I'd prefer the glass fibre, but there's no accounting for taste.
AG, not my concern at all, just one of the hyped up claims by those against the Turbines, this includes Bats amongst other things.
I suspect of course that if one of the protesters found bats in their roof space they'd soon want them 'removed'.
I simply do not believe the 'harm' hype.
who dat?
says...
9:26pm Tue 24 Aug 10
The Chinese would not let him in - even they are tired of old style socialism!!They all want to become squillionaires like his beloved idol , Tony B-Liar!!
itsamess
says...
10:15pm Tue 24 Aug 10
politicrat
says...
11:33pm Tue 24 Aug 10
who dat? wrote:If you want Honda to stay and to continue to invest in Swindon despite the objections of the locals, you would need to adopt a different attitude towards investments and the Wind turbines is one of them........
"A typically stupid comment from Poliprat. Where have you been recently? I had hoped you'd cleared off to China, as promised." The Chinese would not let him in - even they are tired of old style socialism!!They all want to become squillionaires like his beloved idol , Tony B-Liar!!
be a little more welcoming and tolerant, do not take Honda plant in Swindon for granted, you would be stupid to think so.
I suggest people of Swindon to wisen up very quickly at a time of considerable corporate investment projections.
Robfm
says...
8:56am Wed 25 Aug 10
Always Grumpy
says...
11:29am Wed 25 Aug 10
Robfm wrote:I'm still not sure whether you are for or against the wind turbines at Honda or wind turbines in general.
politicrat, I do agree the people of Swindon should wise up to the consequences of Honda moving, however the application should be judged on fact, not pressure group hysteria.
Can you enlighten me, just to satisfy my curiosity? No malicious intentions I can assure you.
Robfm
says...
12:37pm Wed 25 Aug 10
However is a household or business can reduce their energy consumption by providing a percentage of their electricity, whether by direct input, or via providing electricity to the grid then I don't have a problem with it.
Always Grumpy
says...
12:44pm Wed 25 Aug 10
Robfm wrote:Fair enough.
I do not believe that wind turbines are the solution to our long term energy needs because of their inefficiency.
However is a household or business can reduce their energy consumption by providing a percentage of their electricity, whether by direct input, or via providing electricity to the grid then I don't have a problem with it.
itsamess
says...
1:57pm Wed 25 Aug 10
Evil_Genius
says...
4:55am Fri 27 Aug 10
itsamess wrote:Stuff of nonsense.
The technology is extremely simple--however gaining true efficiency is not. Unlike some fuels electricity cannot be stored unless stored in batteries. Many countries today still use 110v systems which are safer. For example--if you have 2 identical diesel generators--one producing 110v the other 240v the 110v comes out as being more fuel efficient and less strain on the engine and alternator generating the electricity. For wind turbines to be efficient and cost effective they have to have the capability to produce the amount of power needed at high speed or slow. Personally i am not convinced they are as efficient as claimed. I will see if i can study some designs to see how they work and capabilities.
.
The voltage is irrelevant. It's the power that is required that will determine the load on the engine. Voltage is one component of power, current being another. If comparable test is made the 110V system will run at twice the current, requiring heavier cables and connectors. The load on the generator is the same.
.
Messy you are a blithering idiot.
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Oik1 says...
2:50pm Mon 23 Aug 10