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Anger over plans for 260-ft tall turbine
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Plans to site an 86-metre high wind turbine near to homes have sparked concern from neighbours.
Ecotricity, a company which supplies eco-friendly electricity generators, has drawn up proposals to erect a turbine at Sainsbury’s Trentham Lake depot.
The idea is for the energy generated to power the distribution centre, with some left over to sell back into the National Grid. The blueprints were on display for the first time at a public consultation at the Hollybush Centre, Blurton, yesterday.
Residents expressed fears the turbine will generate noise, tower above other landmarks, spoil their views and devalue their houses.
Kenneth Barker lives 100 yards from the proposed turbine site, in Clermont Avenue, Stoke.
The 64-year-old said: “I’m worried about the noise and think my bungalow will depreciate in value. Turbines are needed to help the environment, but not interfering with people’s lives.
“We already get noise from Sainsbury’s, and have had to call the council about their wagons keeping us awake.”
Neighbour Clive Chapman, aged 70, who has lived on Clermont Avenue for 40 years, said: “I don’t want to have to look out of my window at that big monstrosity.”
His wife Joan added: “When we moved in it was all green fields, a beautiful, quiet place in the country. Now we’re surrounded by the A500, the Sainsbury’s warehouse and possibly this turbine.”
The plans have not been submitted to Stoke City Council yet, but many residents who attended the consultation said they plan to object.
Michael Burrows, aged 66, of Clermont Avenue, said: “It’s really annoyed me to see the plans for how the turbine will look. I wasn’t expecting it to be so big. It’s right in front of my front window.”
If the plans are approved by councillors the turbine will be erected within about eight months. Ecotricity says the turbines are a vital part of the “war on climate change”.
The company says its turbines are quieter than others, as they don’t use a gearbox to turn the blades, and they are effective even at low wind speeds.
A spokesman said: “Potential noise impact from the proposed turbine as well as the construction and decommissioning stages have been assessed. This shows the predicted noise levels at the nearest residential locations to the site meet the day and night time limit under all conditions, and operational noise from this site is not considered to be significant.”
Managing director Dale Vince said: “Changing where our electricity comes from is crucial.”
By Katie Cooksey
6 December 2007
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