TURBINE: Where is the control?

THE recent construction of the turbine adjacent to the A605 at Whittlesey illustrates well the fact that Fenland District Council has no proper planning policy in controlling the development of these large structures towering 125 metres over our countryside.

While some may consider those residents living close to industrial development have little to object to in future expansion of such developments, I believe they have every right to a quality of life that will now be infringed by the construction of this huge turbine.

The reality is that this turbine is overkill.

Yes, by all means allow this firm to build a small turbine sufficient to meet the energy needs of this company which must only be a small fraction of that which this turbine will generate.

This development is another typical example of developers, often financed by investment companies, applying for planning permission under the disguise to be locally 'green'.

But in fact are building turbines that will generate electricity for the needs of others living well outside of the Fenland area.

With such generous government grants available and a local authority happy to allow such developments its no wonder more and more turbine developers are jumping on the 'fenland wind turbine gold rush'.

More and more residents are saying enough is enough.

Could this latest turbine at Whittlesey be a turning point for the district council?

With Nigel Brown, a senior planning officer, recently stating at a conference held by the British Wind Energy Associating, "should Fenland become a net exporter of energy?" I personally have doubts.

If he is putting that question to wind turbine developers and others attending that conference why is he not putting that question to the residents of Fenland? It appears that yet again the council is encouraging more wind turbines to be built, still without a proper planning policy to control them, and most important of all, no consultation with its residents.

TREVOR WATSON

The Laurels

March