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SBWF Blimp
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The SBWF Blimp was being flown at turbine height through April and May when conditions allowed. It was flying either from Gregorys Farm (see photo on the right) or from Cotton Lane. The Blimp gives a indication of the just how big 120m high turbines will be. The Blimp was clearly visible from Stevenage, Benington, Aston, Watton, Datchworth, Knebworth, Dane End and Green End. |
Blimp
over Gregorys Farm
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THE SOUNDS OF HIGH
WINDS - Jane Davis from
Deeping St Nicholas
A frightening sound
filled the Methodist Chapel in Benington when villagers heard for
themselves just how bad the noise from wind turbines could be. Jane
Davis from Deeping St Nicholas in Lincolnshire played the recording
made (with the help of BBC Radio 4) at her farm. Some people felt, as
well as heard the noise. Karen Burt said ‘we could only bear it for a
few minutes – the noise was horrible, but the way it made my heart
thump was worse’.All the expert reviews on the health impacts from turbine noise have recommended a minimum distance of 1.5-2km from homes and the 2km distance has now been implemented in Scotland. One of the Benington turbines will be less than 1km from the nearest home and less than 1.5 km from over 100 homes. Almost all of Benington and much of Watton lie within the 2 km range (see maps). In November 2007, Nicolas Sarkozy implemented a ban on all wind farms in rural locations in France. He said ‘this is a powerful contribution to the image of France and shows Europe that an energy policy can reconcile the fight against global warming and respect for the countryside and everyday life’. Our government guidelines permit night-time noise levels from wind turbines of 43dB. This is far higher than the levels permitted for other noise sources. Background noise at night in this area is very low (20-30 dB). A difference of 15 dB equates to the noise being about three times louder. The night-time noise measured in a recent Dutch study exceeded the expected level 72% of the time and at the most frequent night wind speeds of 3 and 4 m/s was up to 15 dB higher (about three times higher) than expected. Jane Davis and her family can no longer sleep or live in their home. It may not be this bad for us all but as Karen said ‘at the moment all I hear at night are the owls; I don’t want to be woken at night and prevented from getting back to sleep by the sound of industrial turbines’. Not everyone will be equally affected. The most vulnerable are children, the elderly, shift workers and those with particular medical conditions. The ill-effects on mood and concentration arise from sleep disturbance, and chronic exposure to noise has negative impacts on the cardiovascular system, even if it does not wake you. Noise during the daytime will have particular effects on concentration, memory and language acquisition. |
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Freddy Forsyth says
the windfarm is "Madness on stilts - literally!" Thanks very much to everyone who joined the protest walk on 7th October, it was a great success. Thanks especially to our speakers: Marcus Taverner, Kevin Fitzgerald, Frederick Forsyth and Oliver Heald MP. Also a special thank you to the amazingly talented Becky Godlee for the fabulous performance of her specially written song "Beauty Corruption". You can see some photographs of the walk here (opens new window). Beauty Corruption-Becky Godlee MP3 Download You may need a media player 
If you download this track, please make a donation to SBWF (suggested donation £3) Media Coverage following the walk has been extensive - here is a selection Stop ‘madness on stilts’ plan! - Hertfordshire Mercury 12 October Best seller Freddie joins village wind farm protest - East Hertfordshire Herald 11 October Marchers say no to wind turbines - The Comet 11 October TV moves in as wind farm row blows on - Hertfordshire Mercury 5 October Global warming just a solar-driven cycle - Letters to Hertfordshire Mercury 12 October |
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is a proposal by
R.H. Bott & Sons to erect three large (120m) wind turbines on High
Elms Lane, between Benington, Aston and Watton-at-Stone in Hertfordshire A 50m test turbine has been
installed and the Bott's intend to submit a planning application in
October 2007.
Group action in a concerted and firm way will stop this - but we need
your ACTIVE support - NOW! Anyone who feels strongly about this should
speak up - Please do not leave this to others. We are small communities
- your voice counts.
If built, these turbines will dominate the horizon for miles around. We must save the historical landscape of Cotton
Lane and High
Elms Lane. The significant change to the
character and appearance of the landscape caused by wind turbines
hugely outweighs the benefits in terms of renewable energy generation. SBWF support the use of wind power
where appropriately located. The humble low energy light bulb is a much more cost-effective way of reducing carbon in the atmosphere than expensive wind power projects!
Five minute "What to do" summary 1. Join our email list by contacting us at stopbeningtonwindfarm@yahoo.co.uk Let us know if you would like to be actively involved in the campaign or have skills . 2. Donate! We need to raise funding in the region of £30,000 to hire consultants to act professionally to oppose the the Bott's application. 3. Write a formal letter/email of objection to your elected Parish & District Councilors and also your MP. Please note that MPs and Councilors will generally only deal with cases concerning their own constituents. It is therefore important that you include your full name, address and postcode on your letter or email. See here for the names and addresses of the councilors and MPs for your village. 4. Display a poster showing your support - You can print your own or contact a member of the committee. 5. Sign the SBWF Petition contact a member of the committee. 6. Sign the PM's e-petition "We the undersigned, petition the Prime Minister to Stop erecting wind turbines. 1000 tonnes of concrete is required to install each turbine. Concrete production is the second most polluting industrial process in the world. Wind turbines produce a low and unreliable source of power that cannot be relied upon, so conventional power stations are kept running as backup. Wind Turbines are noisy and spoil our landscape. Please prevent any more from being installed." http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/no-wind-turbines/ |
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a) Wind power is the fastest growing renewable energy sector in Britain. The government is investing massive amounts of money in its future. b) Experts interviewed on Costing the Earth claim that the power of the wind to deliver electricity is being overestimated by companies keen to cash in on big subsidies. c) The government has admitted its struggling to meet targets set by the EU (20% of our energy to come from renewable sources like the wind by 2020), but says it is determined to meet its obligations. d) Companies which generate green energy are rewarded under the government's Renewables Obligation Certificate Scheme or ROCs. e) On paper wind power is a good proposition - we are the windiest nation in Europe. But despite the government subsidy (half a billion pounds so far), wind power does not yet meet 0.5% of our electricity needs. f) Michael Jefferson (Policies Chairman of the World Renewable Energy Network and former Chief Economist with Shell) believes the industry is encouraged to exaggerate not only wind speeds but the amount of potential wind energy a farm can supply. He worries there are many badly sited poorly performing wind farms in England. g) Engineering consultant Jim Oswald states "that many wind farms are being built in places where there will never be sufficient wind power to generate enough electricity" and feels that "an over reliance on wind power could result in major power failures and increase our electricity bills by up to 50%." Noise Problems reported by residents living close to the Deeping St Nicholas Wind farm. "Since last June we have had constant issues with loud noises and low frequency sounds that create a hum in the house all the time. We have kept a log throughout. Many times last summer as we are downwind of the prevailing wind we were woken by loud “WHOOSHING” noises, that stopped us sleeping for more than 4 hours a night. We informed our local environmental health department in June and they came out and were astonished at the loud noise recordings that they made." The Noise Association recommends that turbines should
only be located in areas where the swish, swish will not cause problems
for people and there is a case for a moratorium on installation of very
tall turbines until trials have been conducted into the noise they
actually make. An
investigation into wind farms and noise by The Noise Association
Hard wind The row over wind power rages more fiercely than ever. In Norfolk, the death of one would-be wind farmer is being linked to a battle over a big new development. Throughout the country, opponents complain of unbearable noise and uninhabitable houses. But are things really that bad? Read the full Guardian report Government Funding - The Green Energy Gold mine The Renewables Obligation explained - the windrush to build windfarms before the subsidy expires in April 2009, the whilst the consumer pays - from the BBC 26th April 2007. Burton Wold Wind Farm Possibly the closest operational Wind Farm to Benington. It features 10 turbines, each slightly smaller than those proposed by the Botts. Read More about what the locals think and what they really look like How do you contact us? Please send an email, giving your name, contact details and any views, to stopbeningtonwindfarm@yahoo.co.uk Join our mailing group Please subscribe to our email group so you receive regular email updates. To subscribe, send a blank email to StopBeningtonWindFarm-subscribe@yahoogroups.com |
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Send comments or questions to us via e-mail at stopbeningtonwindfarm@yahoo.co.uk |
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