The balloon goes up for wind farm protesters
CAMPAIGNERS anchored a balloon at a height of 410ft in Swinford at the weekend to illustrate how tall proposed wind turbines would be.
The Stop the Swinford Wind Farm Action Group (SSWFAG) flew a 20ft long by 8ft wide orange balloon attached to a cable and tied to a tractor from a field owned by the group’s secretary, Dawn Money, whose house would be about 800m from the proposed turbine.
SSWFAG has got a six-month licence from the Civil Aviation Authority to fly the balloon at other areas around the site. They plan to fly the balloon again this weekend at the same place, weather permitting.
On Saturday and Sunday Mrs Money had visitors to her home who, she said, were shocked at how tall the turbines could be.
They included Dr Melanie Aram who lives on Walcote Road between South Kilworth and Walcote.
She told the Mail “It’s frighteningly obvious of their size from where I live.”
Renewable energy firm Nuon UK wants to put 11 wind turbines, each 410ft (125metres) tall, on the site between Swinford and South Kilworth.
Mrs Money said: “I know you could see them from Gilmorton playing field because I picked my daughter up and I could see the balloon.
“I’m very concerned at the suggestion because of the impact of noise and I’ll see them from three quarters of my house.
“When I’m sitting in the conservatory I would see the blades swooping over the top of my house.”
There is similar wind farm plan for Lubenham and members of the protest group there borrowed the balloon from SSWFAG on September 13 and 14, which they flew during the Lubenham Scarecrow Festival.
SSWFAG chairman, Keith Kilbane, submitted a 28,000-word document to Harborough District Council in August objecting to the proposal.
The group is now waiting to see what happens at October’s meeting of the council planning committee.
To find out more about the wind farm visit www.nuonrenewables.com or for more information on the group visit www.sswfag.co.uk.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Harborough
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
