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Wind issue splits vote
4:01pm Wednesday 2nd April 2008
Comments (5)SOME 150 people packed a public meeting to hear about a wind farm at East Stoke - a "thorny issue" which is dividing the Purbeck community.
The crowd heard arguments for and against the plans for six 125m turbines up at Masters Pit quarry from Infinergy, the green energy company behind the plan, and action group Dorset Against Wind Turbines (Dart).
The meeting, at D'Urberville Hall, Wool, on Monday, was called by East Stoke Parish Council and chaired by Councillor Barry Quinn.
He estimated half of those present were from the parish, which will feel the greatest effects should the scheme get the go ahead.
He said: "I would say the majority of people appeared to be against the development.
"It's a thorny issue. I think it's probably a plan which isn't going to be decided upon in the near term."
Dart members took an unofficial straw poll at the end of the meeting and counted 94 per cent against the turbines and just eight in support.
Terry Stewart, chairman of Dorset Campaign to Protect Rural England, which is working with Dart, said: "There was certainly strong feeling.
"We are extremely glad local residents are facing up to some of the realities of these proposals."
Will Bond, the landowner who is working with Infinergy on the Alaska Wind Farm project, said: "Obviously I welcome the opportunity to talk to people and hopefully put their minds at rest on the issues raised since the project was first announced."
Infinergy will be inviting East Stoke councillors and residents to visit Burton Wold wind farm in Kettering on Saturday to see turbines for themselves.
Project manager Herb Lindlahr said: "We say don't listen to us, don't listen to the anti-wind farm camp, listen to the turbines and make up your own mind."
Pro-wind farm group Say Yes to Wind Power launched in Wareham on March 22.
Founder Peter Barker said: "We were overwhelmed by the positive response from the public. I would say 85 to 90 per cent were supportive and in less than two hours we received over 180 signatures of support."
An application for the wind farm has been submitted to Purbeck District Council.
No date for the decision has been set.
Your Say YourBournemouth Echo
Carl Barron, Dorset says...
7:32pm Wed 2 Apr 08
I don't know why the UK is not using more suitable alternative systems to generate Electricity. Just look at any good map of Britain to see how many rivers there are. Why not use the 'Water Mill System' to generate Electricity at least such a building is photogenic which Wind Turbines are not.
Not only would the 'Water Mill System' be better as it's a 24/7 constant reliable system unlike Wind Turbines as it's not always windy is it?
We could also use things as 'Submersible Tunnel Turbines' as Britain is laced with a great many rivers, therefore Submersible Tunnel Turbines could be used to replace Eyesore Wind Turbines.
ecotist, wareham says...
9:21pm Wed 2 Apr 08
Here's an interesting thing I read a while back -penned by none other than all round good guy, Guardian columnist,Heathrow protester and greeny green journalist, George Monbiot: "Like other environmentalists, I would be happiest if all the electricity on the grid were supplied by means of renewable energy. But the wind does not blow, the waves do not rise and the sun does not shine on demand. In the uk, for example, electricity demand peaks between 5pm and 7pm on winter evenings. Those who advocate turning the uk into a solar economy would do well to take note of this. If we switched our entire electricity-generati
ng network over to variable sources of renewable power, there would be a power cut whenever the wind or waves dropped." He goes on to say: (shock horror!):
"So I place nuclear power second on my list of preferences. My first choice is the burning of natural gas with carbon capture and storage, and my third, the burning of coal(faint) with ccs. Hamilton calls carbon capture a political ruse first and foremost, but the real ruse is to pretend that no ugly technology has to be selected: that a modern economy can be run on carrot juice and wishful thinking. He argues that carbon and storage is likely to be more expensive than existing alternatives. Which alternatives does he have in mind?" Quote from New Left Review June 2007(full version available on his website)
John Rowley, Swanage says...
10:30pm Wed 2 Apr 08
ecotist, wareham says...
5:59pm Fri 4 Apr 08
Artist's impression: What the wind farm will look like
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Tru Belle, purbeck says...
7:18pm Wed 2 Apr 08
I think you just may be pretty visible with yours!!