Newletter Number Five. Feb 2006

The SoS Newsletter is produced to keep the communities of Aston Ingham, Aston Crews, Gorsley, Kilcot and Linton informed about the status of the 2 x 56 metre (183ft) Wind-Turbines, each the height of Nelson’s column which are proposed at Withymoor Farm, (grid reference SO:674. 241). We also aim to provide some general information about wind turbines.




Actual location of the Two wind turbines, which will be immediately adjacent to the public footpath

The Continuing Story.
The Turbine plans for Withymoor farm have not gone away. Far from it, we are assured that Green Amp still have the contractual option to build 2 turbines at the above site. So it’s important we keep a watchful eye on the site, as the balloon flying required for the environmental assessment still has to be carried out. Please let us know immediately if you see anything. (Contact details at the end of the Newsletter)

We understand that the turbines to be used are US designed and built Carter CWT300s units. In 1999 Carters went into receivership and few units now operate in the US. Secondhand pre-1999, noisy units are available to buy on the open market. Is this what we are getting? And just to reinforce the noise issue, we are also aware that a member of the Carter family was looking for funding for design improvements on the pre 1999 units, one of which was improved blade tip design to avoid the whop-whop noise emitted as the blades pass through the tower shadow.
Mr Brown continues to spin his turbines stories, in next door Gloucestershire (See What the Papers say) about the progress of his reduced plan for 28 turbines.

He continues to condemn all who oppose him and brands us as anti-renewable energy, which is not the case.
Significantly, Brown makes no attempt to address the argument that the 28 turbines will achieve no net savings in carbon dioxide emissions (because conventional power stations will have to be kept running to cover the three-quarters of the time when the turbines, through inappropriate wind speeds, are not generating); and he conveniently forgets they are only viable to build because he will receive thousands of pounds in hidden subsidies, on top of the many thousands of pounds he will get from selling the electricity itself.
It seems possible that if Green-Amps do get planning approval, the big boys will move in to buy him up, and we should all be concerned about what that might bring. Julian Tolley, analyst at Dawnay Day, said “with giants such as BP, Shell and Exxon are moving into wind, hydrogen and methanol, many of the small companies are likely to be gobbled up.” (Sunday Times 29th January.)
Paul Keetch. MP. http://www.paulkeetch.org.uk/
We are pleased to report that Paul Keetch remains concerned about the turbine plans. His question to The Minister of State (Energy) Malcolm Wicks “What assessment has been made of the merits of the construction of wind turbines on electricity pylons?” got this written reply “No consideration has been given by the department to the construction of wind turbines on electricity pylons. This would be a question for transmission operators/National Grid and project developers to consider.” That’s just another way of say the government doesn’t care about minimising the visual intrusion of these structures’

A HUGE wind turbine went up in smoke in a massive blaze seen for miles across Wearside.
(Sunderland Echo 24th December 2005) What the Papers Say.

“The 200ft structure at the Nissan factory, part of a £2.3million wind farm built in August, burst into flames just after 12.30pm yesterday. The fire was so fierce all three 75-ft long fibre-glass blades eventually dropped off and thick black smoke could be seen for miles around.Almost 200 people dialed 999 to alert emergency crews as flames engulfed the turbine.Police closed both the A1231 and the A19 for an hour-and-a-quarter amid worries that parts of the metal tower could fall on to the busy roads.”

Turbine blades threat growing (Western Daily Press 21st January 2006)
“With wind turbines failure now a regular occurrence, pressure must be put on the policy makers for a greater safety distance from wind turbines to public rights of way. At present PPS22 advises a minimum distance of a “blade length” – in the case of the West Hinkley wind turbines, 40 metres. Flying debris from failing turbines can travel much further than 40 metres. It is only a matter of time before a member of the public is injured or even killed. For safety’s sake the separation distance from turbines to rights of way needs to be increased or, better still, wind turbines kept well away from rights of way altogether.”

Eagles Killed by Wind farm blades (Daily Telegraph 28th January 2006)
Abstract. Turbines were found to have caused the deaths of four white-tailed eagles off the Norwegian coast. The RSPB says positioning wind farms in areas where birds of prey nest and wetlands which attract geese, ducks and swans, will lead to deaths.

TURBINES – Plans are on the way. (Gloucestershire Echo 3rd February 2006)
“Plans for controversial county wind turbines will be put to councils this month. All 28 planned turbines will be applied for at once as energy company Green Amps tries to place them across the Gloucestershire countryside by summer. The imposing structures, set to crop up at sites from Brockhampton to Longborough, have been criticised by residents who say they will ruin beauty spots. Campaigners from Brochampton and Sevenhampton set up a protest group. Green Amps chief executive Nick Brown said the applications had taken longer than expected to put together. Authorities such as Cotswold District Council had expected to receive a host of applications in January. Mr Brown said the delay was down to the number of turbines being applied for. He said: “There are quite a few things to do and sort out, but we’re in the final stages of doing the documentation that needs to be done” “ I’d be disappointed if we weren’t able to get the applications through to the local authorities in the next few weeks” Green Amps wants to put 14 pairs of turbines at sites in Twyning, Somerford Keynes, Fairford, Hardwicke, Moreton-in-Marsh, Bourton-on-the-water, Upper Rissington, Coln St-Aldwyns, Stinchcombe, Brockhampton and Longborough.”

The Action Group leading the SOS campaign is chaired by Jane Bradney (01989 750862). Other members are Steven Burns, Chris Tormey (01989 720861).and Lesley Rackley (01989 720857).If you are interested in helping fight this proposal please ring Martin or Jane Bradney on 01989 750862. hvhac@aol.com