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'Safety fears' over giant turbine plan

10:40pm Sunday 8th June 2008

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Safety fears have been raised over plans to build a 400ft wind turbine next to a quiet residential area.

Concerned residents packed a meeting yesterday to discuss the proposals to put the £2million turbine at Princes Soft Drinks factory in Weaverthorpe Road, Tong, Bradford.

It has been hailed as a 21st century landmark for the city and a way of dramatically cutting carbon emissions from one of the district's major businesses.

But organisers of the meeting, at Tong Conservative Club yesterday, claim residents could be put in danger if the turbine is allowed.

They showed residents footage from the Youtube website of a similar - but smaller - wind turbine collapsing.

More than 60 members of the public heard concerns that in winter, ice could be hurled more than 150 foot at speeds of up to 150mph from its half-ton blades.

The noise would be as loud as a car travelling at 60mph, severely affecting residents living nearby, it was claimed.

Residents fear they will be subjected to light flickering through the blades into their homes during the day and could suffer nausea, dizziness and stress because of noise vibrations from the giant turbine.

Organiser Kevin Walton, of Rakes Lane, East Bierley, said: "It would be quite horrific having to live with that. The fire brigade says that the only thing they can do (in the event of an emergency) is to evacuate the whole area and wait for it to collapse.

"We shouldn't be having this in a built- up area," said Mr Walton.

Jo Tremere, of Toftshaw Lane, East Bierley, urged residents to write letters of objection to Bradford Council's planning department. A decision on whether to permit the turbine - believed to be one of the tallest in Europe - will be made at a meeting next month.

Miss Tremere said it will be "impossible to live with" because of the constant noise from the turbine. She said: "We need to stop this by objecting. Nobody knows what it is going to sound like. Princes have done a noise survey taken from gardens around the site but even they don't know exactly how noisy it is going to be. If I am listening to that every day and I can't escape the noise, how can I work properly? There are children and families living around here. How are we supposed to live like that?"

Bradford councillors Michael Johnson and John Ruding offered their support to residents at the meeting. Councillor Ruding (Lab, Tong) said: "My view is that I am in favour of sustainable energy but I can tell you that, if I was on the planning committee, I would not support this because of the sheer size of it."

The project has been shown to Bradford people at a series of road shows across the city. Residents have studied posters and graphics at exhibitions at Weaverthorpe Retail Park, Holme Wood Library and Asda at Rooley Lane. Princes reported positive feedback from residents.

Nobody was available for comment from the food manufacturer yesterday.

However, a spokesman previously told the T&A the turbine would be a "fantastic opportunity" to decrease its energy consumption by harnessing wind power.

He said: "This is an exciting project at a site which is a major employer in the region. We hope that our public consultation has demonstrated to people living nearby that this is a fantastic opportunity to secure power from a sustainable source at a time when all businesses should be reviewing their energy consumption."

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moderngal, bradford says...
11:29pm Sun 8 Jun 08

here we go again moaning. i live closer to it than some of these, in the t&a people from dudley hill and even further afield having been getting involved! notice not many of the younger generation at these meetings, i do not oppose the turbine and never will, get up to date guys, they have been around for years and how many problems have they caused???? it will be no more noise than the area gets at the moment with traffic, yobs on motorbikes, off road bikes and the odd car chase! you are probably less likely to get it by ice falling off a blade than a piece of ice falling off your house roof!

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moderngal, bradford says...
11:29pm Sun 8 Jun 08

here we go again moaning. i live closer to it than some of these, in the t&a people from dudley hill and even further afield having been getting involved! notice not many of the younger generation at these meetings, i do not oppose the turbine and never will, get up to date guys, they have been around for years and how many problems have they caused???? it will be no more noise than the area gets at the moment with traffic, yobs on motorbikes, off road bikes and the odd car chase! you are probably less likely to get it by ice falling off a blade than a piece of ice falling off your house roof!

Report this post »

moderngal, bradford says...
11:29pm Sun 8 Jun 08

here we go again moaning. i live closer to it than some of these, in the t&a people from dudley hill and even further afield having been getting involved! notice not many of the younger generation at these meetings, i do not oppose the turbine and never will, get up to date guys, they have been around for years and how many problems have they caused???? it will be no more noise than the area gets at the moment with traffic, yobs on motorbikes, off road bikes and the odd car chase! you are probably less likely to get it by ice falling off a blade than a piece of ice falling off your house roof!

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:09am Mon 9 Jun 08

This type of power is the future in England. If this does not go ahead it cost more in globel warming over the years

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chris, BRADFORD says...
7:09am Mon 9 Jun 08

This type of power is the future in England. If this does not go ahead it cost more in globel warming over the years

Report this post »

chris, BRADFORD says...
7:09am Mon 9 Jun 08

This type of power is the future in England. If this does not go ahead it cost more in globel warming over the years

Report this post »

Andy Bairsto, bradford says...
7:44am Mon 9 Jun 08

Well Chris you obviously no nothing about wind turbines,Germany has around 70 thousand and they do not work they are turning to back to coal,for every 100 megawatt of power you need 90 megawatt of conventional power to be on standby ie running.They are built for one reason only and that is tax breaks and subsidy without that there would not be one in the world.I monitor renewable energy for my living and believe you me there is not one project that is or will be economically or pratically efficient that is why the government has woken up to the massive energy shortage the UK is facing and the only thing in the short term to fill that gap is nuclear power.Whether you like it or not its that or starve as a nation.

Report this post »

Andy Bairsto, bradford says...
7:44am Mon 9 Jun 08

Well Chris you obviously no nothing about wind turbines,Germany has around 70 thousand and they do not work they are turning to back to coal,for every 100 megawatt of power you need 90 megawatt of conventional power to be on standby ie running.They are built for one reason only and that is tax breaks and subsidy without that there would not be one in the world.I monitor renewable energy for my living and believe you me there is not one project that is or will be economically or pratically efficient that is why the government has woken up to the massive energy shortage the UK is facing and the only thing in the short term to fill that gap is nuclear power.Whether you like it or not its that or starve as a nation.

Report this post »

Andy Bairsto, bradford says...
7:44am Mon 9 Jun 08

Well Chris you obviously no nothing about wind turbines,Germany has around 70 thousand and they do not work they are turning to back to coal,for every 100 megawatt of power you need 90 megawatt of conventional power to be on standby ie running.They are built for one reason only and that is tax breaks and subsidy without that there would not be one in the world.I monitor renewable energy for my living and believe you me there is not one project that is or will be economically or pratically efficient that is why the government has woken up to the massive energy shortage the UK is facing and the only thing in the short term to fill that gap is nuclear power.Whether you like it or not its that or starve as a nation.

Report this post »

bradfordian, bradford says...
8:18am Mon 9 Jun 08

we also have the bikers doing wheelies on the main road on a sunday afternoon.they make a huge amount of noise.no disrespect to genuine bikers who are fine.it is these lunatics who do wheelies in the middle of a very busy main road.

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bradfordian, bradford says...
8:18am Mon 9 Jun 08

we also have the bikers doing wheelies on the main road on a sunday afternoon.they make a huge amount of noise.no disrespect to genuine bikers who are fine.it is these lunatics who do wheelies in the middle of a very busy main road.

Report this post »

bradfordian, bradford says...
8:18am Mon 9 Jun 08

we also have the bikers doing wheelies on the main road on a sunday afternoon.they make a huge amount of noise.no disrespect to genuine bikers who are fine.it is these lunatics who do wheelies in the middle of a very busy main road.

Report this post »

geoff wright, west wales says...
10:01am Mon 9 Jun 08

i have no bother with wind turbines BUT we have 6 on a hill verry close to where we live ,last year one of the turbine blades broke of, so to put one in a built up area is stupid, also one 400 foot high will make a hell of a noise, and it is not verry plesant ,

Report this post »

geoff wright, west wales says...
10:01am Mon 9 Jun 08

i have no bother with wind turbines BUT we have 6 on a hill verry close to where we live ,last year one of the turbine blades broke of, so to put one in a built up area is stupid, also one 400 foot high will make a hell of a noise, and it is not verry plesant ,

Report this post »

geoff wright, west wales says...
10:01am Mon 9 Jun 08

i have no bother with wind turbines BUT we have 6 on a hill verry close to where we live ,last year one of the turbine blades broke of, so to put one in a built up area is stupid, also one 400 foot high will make a hell of a noise, and it is not verry plesant ,

Report this post »

geoff wright, west wales says...
10:02am Mon 9 Jun 08

i have no bother with wind turbines BUT we have 6 on a hill verry close to where we live ,last year one of the turbine blades broke of, so to put one in a built up area is stupid, also one 400 foot high will make a hell of a noise, and it is not verry plesant ,

Report this post »

geoff wright, west wales says...
10:02am Mon 9 Jun 08

i have no bother with wind turbines BUT we have 6 on a hill verry close to where we live ,last year one of the turbine blades broke of, so to put one in a built up area is stupid, also one 400 foot high will make a hell of a noise, and it is not verry plesant ,

Report this post »

geoff wright, west wales says...
10:02am Mon 9 Jun 08

i have no bother with wind turbines BUT we have 6 on a hill verry close to where we live ,last year one of the turbine blades broke of, so to put one in a built up area is stupid, also one 400 foot high will make a hell of a noise, and it is not verry plesant ,

Report this post »

gaz4, east bowling says...
10:10am Mon 9 Jun 08

if it gets built sabertage would be a good option....residents will not be able to sell there houses and the value will depreceate, are princes gonna compensate the residents for this? Does'nt sound like a great plan to me!

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gaz4, east bowling says...
10:10am Mon 9 Jun 08

if it gets built sabertage would be a good option....residents will not be able to sell there houses and the value will depreceate, are princes gonna compensate the residents for this? Does'nt sound like a great plan to me!

Report this post »

gaz4, east bowling says...
10:10am Mon 9 Jun 08

if it gets built sabertage would be a good option....residents will not be able to sell there houses and the value will depreceate, are princes gonna compensate the residents for this? Does'nt sound like a great plan to me!

Report this post »

pk, Bradford says...
1:48pm Mon 9 Jun 08

This project is more to do with profits and tax breaks than the environment. In return for subjecting this locality to the risk of wind turbine syndrome, sun flicker, TV reception loss, etc etc the company will gain 20 years virtually free electricity. And some people call this "environmentally friedly". Not friendly at all to this environment.

Report this post »

pk, Bradford says...
1:48pm Mon 9 Jun 08

This project is more to do with profits and tax breaks than the environment. In return for subjecting this locality to the risk of wind turbine syndrome, sun flicker, TV reception loss, etc etc the company will gain 20 years virtually free electricity. And some people call this "environmentally friedly". Not friendly at all to this environment.

Report this post »

pk, Bradford says...
1:48pm Mon 9 Jun 08

This project is more to do with profits and tax breaks than the environment. In return for subjecting this locality to the risk of wind turbine syndrome, sun flicker, TV reception loss, etc etc the company will gain 20 years virtually free electricity. And some people call this "environmentally friedly". Not friendly at all to this environment.

Report this post »

moderngal, bradford says...
2:41pm Mon 9 Jun 08

funny how the size of this turbine keep growing!

Report this post »

moderngal, bradford says...
2:41pm Mon 9 Jun 08

funny how the size of this turbine keep growing!

Report this post »

moderngal, bradford says...
2:41pm Mon 9 Jun 08

funny how the size of this turbine keep growing!

Report this post »

Keighley Resident, Keighley, West Yorkshire says...
10:51pm Mon 9 Jun 08

The only people at risk are those who are about 440 feet tall, anyone know locals who fit this description?

Report this post »

Keighley Resident, Keighley, West Yorkshire says...
10:51pm Mon 9 Jun 08

The only people at risk are those who are about 440 feet tall, anyone know locals who fit this description?

Report this post »

Keighley Resident, Keighley, West Yorkshire says...
10:51pm Mon 9 Jun 08

The only people at risk are those who are about 440 feet tall, anyone know locals who fit this description?

Report this post »

gaz4, east bowling says...
9:32am Tue 10 Jun 08

Keighley Resident wrote:
The only people at risk are those who are about 440 feet tall, anyone know locals who fit this description?
shut up muppet

Report this post »

gaz4, east bowling says...
9:32am Tue 10 Jun 08

Keighley Resident wrote:
The only people at risk are those who are about 440 feet tall, anyone know locals who fit this description?
shut up muppet

Report this post »

gaz4, east bowling says...
9:32am Tue 10 Jun 08

Keighley Resident wrote:
The only people at risk are those who are about 440 feet tall, anyone know locals who fit this description?
shut up muppet

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

Some of the protesters who attended the meeting to oppose the new turbine

Some of the protesters who attended the meeting to oppose the new turbine



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