School in a spin over turbine plans
STUDENTS at a Forest school are in a spin over plans for a new wind turbine on the playing fields.
An application for a 17.5metre structure at Whitecross School in Lydney has been submitted to Forest of Dean District Council.
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Pupils celebrating Ofsted success in June this year
The turbine would be used in science lessons at the school in Church Lane.
It is estimated it will generate enough electricity to power two houses and could save the school up to £800 a year.
Whitecross is Gloucestershire's first Engineering College and teachers anticipate the turbine will be used in practical lessons.
In an application to Forest of Dean District Council David Childs from Whitecross said: "The school is very active on environmental issues including recycling, composting, reducing water and energy consumption.
"The students have taken an active role throughout the project and have researched renewable energy and wind energy in order to build up their knowledge of the issues involved."
He added: "The school will use the wind turbine as an educational tool and a display panel in the school will show how much energy is being produced."
At Lydney Town Council on Monday councillors voted to back the plans.
Councillor Tracey Donabie said the school was to be commended for thinking about the environment.
She said: "We should support it because they are being green and eco-friendly."
Coun Derek Biddle agreed saying it would be used in lessons because Whitecross was now a specialist science school.
Coun Dave Cooksley added: "They should be applauded for it."
The town councillor approved the plans which will now be discussed by Forest of Dean District Council.
However neighbours to the school have raised concerns over possible noise pollution caused by the turbine.
One letter to the district council said: "Speaking on behalf of residents in Furnace Close we have obvious concerns over 24 hour noise pollution and visual impairments that the proposed siting of the turbine will cause us."
If the plans are approved, Whitecross will follow other schools in the county by introducing a green power source.
St Peter's High School in Stroud Road, Gloucester, had plans for a wind turbine approved last year.
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by anon, fod
Sunday, July 12 2009, 10:05PM
“i am a student at whitecross school and i am really exited about this plan and i know many of my peers are aswell,all the community say that all that matters is that children enjoy school and that they should be happy,this makes us happy,do we deserve for our happiness to be taken from us,this is a great plan and will be a great educational experiance,for now and the futre,i will be backing mr child all the way,after all whitecross worked extremly hard to a cheive specilist engeneering status so that they could do things like this, so if this doesnt happen it sort of proves that it was a waste of time”
by JS, Lydney
Saturday, July 11 2009, 10:38AM
“Steve Im not against the idea of the turbine, but if it going to happen ,why not do it on a scale that will really make a difference.”
by Steve, Forest
Friday, July 10 2009, 9:19PM
“JP I imagine the school is paying. 800 pound a year is a HUGE saving for a school. What noise and visual impact - nothing compared to the cars going past all day, but you take that for granted. We want our children to grow up and face the future and that's what the knee jerk people like JS need to do too.”
by Anne, Lydney
Friday, July 10 2009, 3:02PM
“What a brilliant idea, well done Whitecross.”
by Fod'r, 'Nam
Friday, July 10 2009, 2:34PM
“I received a letter from FoDDC about this plan. The letter gave a reference which it said could be entered into the Planning search facility on the FoDDC website in order to obtain more detailed info. Unsurprisingly the reference was deemed invalid by the website and a search of applications by/at Whitecross produced no plans relating to the turbine (NB I carried out this search about 10 days ago).
I also e-mailed the FoDDC planning dept but only got an automated "Out of Office" response promising a proper reply soon. Needless to so, no such reply has been forthcoming.............. Finally, since when has Whitecross School be in Church "Lane" ?”