Silton Dorset, Another Wind Farm Bites The Dust

Green energy firm Ecotricity had planned to build six 120m turbines near Silton, Gillingham in Dorset. North Dorset District Council's turned it down today.

Around 200 residents were to protest outside the meeting in the Olive Bowl conference centre, Gillingham, with a handful due to speak against the scheme. The campaigners, who go under the name Save Our Silton, have already sent almost 2,000 letters of objection. They argue the wind turbines are only 550m away from the nearest four houses which will suffer unbearable noise disturbance, and that it may damage tourism in the area, especially to some of the nearest houses which offer bed and breakfast and holiday lets.

The Wind Park would have contributed significantly to renewable energy targets and reducing emissions of carbon dioxide. The turbines could produce nearly 20 per cent of the suggested target for renewable electricity generation in Dorset by 2010. Electricity for nearly 9,000 homes could be generated by the giant propellers, reducing North Dorset's carbon footprint by about 10,000 tonnes a year, according to Ecotricity.

Friends of the Earth co-ordinator Dorset Angela Pooley said an environmental impact assessment would have to be made, but backed the use of wind farms in the county to produce renewable energy. "We have to reduce our carbon footprint and that means looking at renewable sources of energy".

But Bob Walter, the Tory MP for North Dorset, opposed the turbines, saying they were unsightly, heavily subsidised and inefficient.

ecotricity wanted to build turbines to reduce emissions
saveoursilton say the turbines woldn't reduce emissions!
recently wind turbine factory closed
Conservative Opposing Wind Turbines
Labour Opposing Wind Turbines
LD Opposing Wind Turbines
Facebook group 'I think wind turbines would look cool in Gillingham.' has 439 members so far