Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
Ministry of Defence fears Maesbury turbine could risk helicopter safety
Credit: February 09, 2013 | Western Daily Press | www.thisissomerset.co.uk ~~
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Translate: FROM English | TO English
Military and civilian aircraft would be endangered by a wind turbine proposed for a remote Mendip hamlet, the Ministry of Defence has warned.
Helicopters from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton fly in the area around Maesbury, near Wells, where the 54-metre turbine is proposed.
Turbines have been shown to desensitise radar and create false ‘returns’ of aircraft, confusing air traffic controllers.
In a written objection to the scheme the MoD says: “Controllers need to separate and sequence both military and civilian aircraft. In busy uncontrolled airspace, radar is the only way to do this safely.”
Yeovilton is set to become the largest base in the UK with hundreds of helicopter movements a day.
A spokesman for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation said: “Maintaining situational awareness of all aircraft movements within the airspace is critical to achieving a safe and efficient air traffic service, and the integrity of radar data is central to this process. Anything else can be dangerous.”
Locals and the Mendip Society are also fighting the proposal, saying the landscape, which includes a hill fort scheduled monument, would be spoiled. The BBC has warned that reception in 4,185 homes could also be affected, but applicant Quarsol Ltd maintains that it would mitigate any problems.
This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.
The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.
Wind Watch relies entirely on User Funding |
(via Stripe) |
(via Paypal) |
Share: