WEBMASTERS VIEW

 I'd like to call myself an environmentalist.  I care about the environment -  I recycle and generally do what I  can to protect the environment (and my conscience).  I ride a motorbike that doesn't take up much room and doesn't eat a lot of gas plus a eco-friendly (by comparison) very small car fuel efficient car that rewards me by having a low road tax.

People complain about wind farms, which are far more pleasant an option than the alternatives.  We campaign against nuclear on safety grounds – here, no safety issues.  We whinge about other methods of generating power due to pollution, noise and disruption – again, relatively none with wind farms.  I can appreciate people wanting to protect a beautiful environment but when power pylons were thrown up all over the countryside, few complained then because it was bringing power to their homes and all the things to make life easier.  But now, people are getting choosy as to where their power comes from.  Power – but on our terms  - nothing unsightly on my doorstep, nothing noisy, nothing big, nothing smelly - just nothing that I can see, smell or hear please....with no conditions.

Where do we expect future power to come from?  Sure there are ever growing advances in nuclear technology - cleaner reactors - hydrogen fusion.  Fossil fuel alternatives to burn  - wood pulp, organic rubbish etc etc.  Its still nuclear - still a good target for your terrorist fanatic.  Its still 'burning' - still emissions - albeit less carbonated.

I haven't  read anywhere yet that they are proposing to encircle us all with wind farms.   It's a couple of patches of land.  I just keep hearing arguments about 'Blot on the landscape' and money-making corporations.   Talk about overstressing a point!  Did you see that balloon? - it was a blip, not a blot.  Turbines placed in the middle of the countryside - areas of outstanding natural beauty being destroyed - give me a break!. The pure aesthetic argument is worthless anyway - beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that - you either love them or hate them.

Sure if we were located near enough to it, and facing in the right direction, we would see it - if we choose to look in that direction.  Of an entire 360' view, we would have to stand facing it, by choice.  The further we were from it, the greater it's obstruction by hedges and trees and the horizon - and the sky is clear and clean - with no unsightly emissions of anything!

Most of what I've heard and read so far seems more to be some sort of fight/protest against money-making conglomerates seeking to wreck a way of life, a culture, an 'entire' area of outstanding natural beauty.  Yes, there are companies that will make profit, but surely companies that will contribute to providing us with power without nuclear risks, without further greenhouse gas emissions, without ANY emissions except a bit of noise, without much disturbance but a relatively small area of land where we can see modern hi-tech structures utilising natural infinite clean power - no risks - no polluted air.   Look the other way and they are gone - simple.

Too many people complain about tough decisions but few propose solutions.  Half the time, that's because it's just dead easy to complain - " I don't like it/ I don't want it there/It spoils my view/What about the birdies?/cows?/horses?" - give me strength!.  Yeah,  just too difficult to come up with any alternatives, just sit around, moan and wait for the lights to go out with yet another brown-out - then we can get on our ever-so convenient mobile phones, (we can't use the land-line because we've got a flash cordless jobby that don't work now  'cause the powers gone off!) and proceed to transmit our complaints across the myriads of mobile phone masts now 'blighting' our landscape as well - talk about hypocrisy!!.

Actually my argument against Windfarms  is nothing to do with entrepreneurs, location, efficiencies, aesthetics or  green issues at all.  Its much more basic than that.  It's simply my money.  Bottom-line, the consumer is actually going to have to pay more for this 'green' electricity - I'd read between 15-20% more.  That's what  really gets up my nose.  Its just another example of the premium we all continue  to pay for wanting to help the environment, our health, decent and humane animal husbandry and organic farming.  Sure,  middle income and higher can afford to be seen to be green, but for the minimum wage brigade masses, its the premium that has to be paid for the green/organic/environmentally friendly products and services that hurts and often simply financially prohibits people genuinely wanting to be green/organic etc. etc.

So I ask  - 'why can't a part of all this Government subsidy/grants/incentives actually find its way back into the consumers pocket via energy subsidies rather than 100% into the pockets of these Wind Farm conglomerates?'.  Alternatively, why can't these business entrepreneurs simply feed a proportion of all this financial incentive back to us - the consumer and at the very least give us the electricity at the same price as we currently pay.  Better still, offer cut-price electricity and my complexion will most certainly take on a greener and more blustery  hue.

I went to a parish council meeting about the proposed wind farm development near Poddington.  I could not find the village hall so asked at the Local pub where it was.  It was quite busy I thought for a village pub on a cold midweek night in November. They told me where to go.  When I got there 10 minutes later I was surprised to see less members of the public in the meeting than in the pub. What does that tell us? I think it indicates that there are certain people that have strong views on the matter but the rest of the people are not bothered one way or the other.  My personal view is that we should have as many as possible.  I agree with the comments that each town should have their own wind farm along with other measures.  On looking on CLOWD's website it says they are not against renewable energy but reading between the lines it seems that they are against wind farms/factories. They also state that they are in agreement with,  "All communities sharing the adverse physical, environmental and financial impacts of green energy production equally"  This I agree with,  so why should people in Scotland be producing electricity from wind power and exporting it to England.  If we are all to share the benefits and disadvantages of clean electricity we have to start somewhere.  I am proud to support all the developments that I have seen so far. How many of the anti campaigners are on green energy tariffs if they are so concerned about global warming????   (Chris Tyler )
Sounds familiar!  -   not unlike the PC meetings I attend - mostly more Counsellors than Parishioners..!  wm