Join the debate on Windfarms

I bring you another subject that's very much part of my ward in Stoke Park. In fact, I have to declare an interest here, as this is going to affect my street, being on the very edge of the boundary of Ipswich, overlooking the site where 2 x 130 mtr turbiness are proposed.

The land (Thorington) belongs to Ipswich Borough Council but it is sited in the Babergh district, which is the planning authority involved.

The photo has been taken from my street and shows what it will look like, calculated by Peter Evans who has instigated the Stop Ipswich Turbines campaign.

I think it is important that all sides are listened to and understood and then people can make their own minds up. To this end, I have organised and posted leaflets, with my colleague Bob Hall, and this has resulted in some dialogue and sign ups for further information, details below.

I happen to think wind turbines are rather graceful & beautiful but this opinion is not shared by everyone and, even if it was, it is only one of the many concerns that residents and SIT are campaigning on.

Kessingland Wind Turbines

There are residents in Kessingland who have first hand knowledge of living with turbines and tell their own story. They attended a meeting with SIT campaigners and are struggling to resume a quality of life that they had before the turbines were built. Please look at their website but I quote a paragraph which gives a flavour of the problems they are enduring and are fighting against (directly from their website www.turnthemoff.co.uk)

'Noise and the effect on health.

The issue of noise produced by wind turbines is controversial as there are widely conflicting views. An apparent shortage of scientific research and planning regulations are based on outdated data significantly contributes to the problem.

Wind turbines produce three types of sound - (a) mechanical noise from the gearbox and generators, (b) aerodynamic noise from the movement of the blades through the air and (c) low frequency infra sound. Research has shown that low frequency sound can cause serious health problems for people sensitive to its effects. People living near wind turbines have reported experiencing health problems including sleep difficulties, headaches, irritability and stress. Wind turbines now dominate the landscape for miles around and can impact on the quality of life of thousands living in the area. Some residents are, however, not affected by them. Even if they live next door to a resident who is.
This is not a NIMBY issue.

This website has been created to inform people about the adverse affects the two turbines are having on their quality of life. Either through health issues, noise, flickering, vibration, amplitude modulation- AM, devaluation of properties, effects on wildlife, the holiday businesses and the damage to the natural beauty in the surrounding area.

Two public meetings have already taken place with W.D.C (Waveney District Council), the developers and our MP Peter Aldous, another is planned in June.
At the last public meeting over 100 residents attended, all bringing their private issues, concerns and worries. Many raised issues of noise, the resultant sleepless nights and having to leave their own homes to get some peace. Others related to their quality of life having been adversely affected. Some had moved bedrooms to get a good nights sleep, others were unable to relax in their own gardens due to the noise from the turbines.

We must fight to get our former quality of lives back. Together, we can win this fight through the 'Power of the People'.
Please add your issues to this Website and be sure to ring Waveney District Council asking for the Environment Department. They will log and record your complaint of noise and disturbances. The more complaints recorded on noise issues, the more power they will have to argue to act.
Please support our Campaign'   end quote.

This is not a question of Nimby. the campaign in question is stating that it should not be in anyone's back yard (the nearest house to the proposed site, for the 2 turbines, is only 600 yards.) There are many more houses that will be affected by potential noise,visual impact, flicker etc in Pinewood, Thorington Park, Belstead village, Stoke Park and Sprites wards.

You can read more at www.stopipswichturbines.com


Now onto the developers, Partnership for Renewals. They have a website for Thorington Park here
http://pfr.co.uk/thoringtonbarn

They say that the turbines on this planned site will be different from the Kessingland site. I am looking forward to hearing their explanation of this at one of the consultation meetings. They have promised to attend to talk to local residents at a public meeting.

I quote Benefits from their website;

Green electricity

If two 2.5MW turbines are installed, they will generate approximately 11 GWh of green electricity on an annual basis. This is equivalent to the amount of electricity used annually by approximately 2,400 households.

CO2 savings

A wind energy development of this scale is expected to avoid approximately 4,700 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

Please note: The environmental benefit figures are based on two 2.5 megawatt turbines, operating with a 25% capacity factor; average household electricity use of 4602kWh per annum; and the electricity generated displacing electricity generated from CCGT / average fuel mix - approx. 430gCO2/kWh.

Additional income

In addition to Ipswich Council making a positive contribution towards the fight against climate change, Partnerships for Renewables will pay rent for the site, bringing in additional income.

Community benefit fund

A market-leading community benefit package will be provided alongside any future development. This will consist of a community fund, which will receive an annual payment at the rate of £2,500 per installed megawatt.

If three 2.5MW turbines are constructed, the fund would receive £18,750 on an annual basis for the operational life of the project (20-25 years).

The fund will be administered by representatives of the local community, to be spent on local projects.

A separate community benefit fund consultation will take place later on in the development process

This article is for info and to point you in the right direction, should you want to know more or attend any of the meetings.

From SIT - The next meeting will be held at Pinewood Community Hall on September 30th 2012 time tbc