Wind turbines could be put up near Tewkesbury
DEVELOPERS want to install three huge wind turbines near Tewkesbury.
Bristol-based Wind Prospect hopes to get permission to put the towering 126m structures on farmland overlooking the M5 and M50 motorways.
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The cluster of turbines would be at Upper Strensham, about 300 yards north of the M50, close to Harbour Wood.
Each one would consist of an 80m tower and 46m blades, giving them a total height of 126m.
Alastair Smith, the firm's planning and development manager, said: "These wind turbines would provide clean, locally produced, green electricity, helping in the fight against climate change and improving energy security by providing a renewable alternative to the burning of fossil fuels."
He said the plan would form part of the UK's national strategy to increase the capacity of renewable energy in the UK.
Each turbine would generate as much electricity as is used by around 3,000 average UK homes while avoiding the emission of between 5,251 to 12,630 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
Wind Prospect, which has offices in Europe, Australia, Canada and China, intends to submit a planning application to Tewkesbury Borough Council after consulting with the public over its scheme.
Alastair said he had already held talks with the parish councils in Strensham and Twyning.
He said that although they had concerns, he believed they could be addressed.
He has arranged to put the plans on display at an exhibition in Strensham Village Hall on Wednesday, from 1pm to 8pm.
Strensham Parish Council chairman Nigel Guilding said villagers were worried that the turbines would be noisy, that they would impact on the landscape and that they might devalue people's homes.
He said: "In some areas where they've put up wind turbines, there has been a fall in property values."
He added that villagers were likely to become more involved in the matter once they had found out further details at the exhibition.
If the turbines are given the go-ahead, their construction will take about nine months and they would stay at the site for about 25 years before being removed.
7 Comments
by Union Man, Kemble
Sunday, September 14 2008, 8:24PM
“The wind Turbines will probably produce as much electricity as 12 000 homes use when the wind blows and none at all when it is a flat calm with freezing fog, Storage of energy is the challenge, pump water up hill by electric pumps and then let it out through water turnbines, the Stroud valley would make a good reservoir, or why not use compressed air storage, Pump the air with the turbines, then let it out past air turbines as in the APU technology on airlines.
Otherwise wind Turbines usually take more energy tp erect and run than they produce.
Cash wise they are marvellous as they get paid more for Kw Hr than householders pay for electricity.
A big con.”
by Pingu, Hesters Way
Sunday, September 14 2008, 6:59PM
“Anon Tewkesbury - do you have a reference please?
There are too many half truths and buried agendas in various reports flying around - on both sides of the argument about wind turbins and green issues in general.
However, because of their location (open countryside, and not at sea) the proposed tubines are probably very cost effective.
The are issues about power management, distribution, and power storage with wind turbines. But these issues are well understood, and are being addressed.
I certainly approve of these generators as part of a wider portfolio of methods of generating power.”
by Anon, Tewkesbury
Sunday, September 14 2008, 10:36AM
“Wind turbines are not eco-friendly and they are an expensive con. Here's a quote from a report on them published this week. "Wind farms are unprofitable and rely on hefty subsidies that ultimately come from consumers in the form of rising energy prices. This cost comes on top of increases in gas and electricity prices caused by the high price of oil. "
The developers use climate-change scare stories as an excuse to line their pockets. The people of Tewkesbury and Twyning should realise what's going on and fight this proposal hard - that's the green thing to do.”
by Terry, Lisburn NI
Saturday, September 13 2008, 6:34PM
“Our local church has a smaller one and it saves 50% on the electric bill, there is no sound of it, the bigger ones do make a swishing noise but it's not intrusive.”
by Hessen Von Lietner, Von Lietner Bunker
Saturday, September 13 2008, 12:10PM
“Only 3??? Surely there is room for at least 40-50.. with ease! After all, most of bespoken antiquated Tewkesbury sits on nothing grander than a flood plain, and would it not be good to utilize the power from these windmills to absorb the excessive water and harness it back into energy????”
by MB, Tewkesbury
Saturday, September 13 2008, 11:11AM
“Will be interesting to see how our "go forward" local government apparatus deals with this. Come on folks - think of the generations to come and make some brave decisions.”
by LOONEYTUNES, TEWKESBURY
Saturday, September 13 2008, 9:09AM
“I hope that Tewkesbury can provide a home to hundreds more of these wind turbines.
Tewkesbury is a great location for them and I know most residents will welcome them in their neighbourhoods.”