5:30pm Tuesday 18th August 2009
By Alex Hayes
ANGRY residents are protesting against plans to build a 15m tall wind turbine in fields behind a Totteridge school.
People living around Highworth Combined School in Highworth Close, fear the 50ft windmill will blight their view and damage local wildlife.
The application was submitted by head Graeme Kilner at the start of the summer holidays.
Colin Treacher, who has lived in nearby Kingswood Place for the last ten years, is also upset at the timing of the application, which falls during the summer holiday while the school is closed.
He said: “The school did run a consultation session but it was during the daytime when most people couldn't attend because they were at work.
“They have told us it will only generate about £1,000 of electricity a year, but it's costing about £25,000 to build, so it's going to take 25 years to break even.
“It's going to ruin the residents' aspect of the green open space.”
Residents have also expressed concerns about the effect the large rotors can have on wildlife, with some studies suggesting bats and birds can be affected.
Dr Gerald and Mrs Sheila Barnet both replied to the consultation saying they are concerned with the height of the installation.
It reads: “We are privileged to have a large variety of birds visit our garden. We would not want anything to harm them or deter them from the area.
“Whilst we are not against sustainable energy generation in principle we would ask that the height of the wind turbine be reduced and the position reconsidered.”
However, headmaster Graeme Kilner said in his application to the council the turbine would benefit pupils and show a commitment to green energy usage.
It reads: “The original suggestion that we install a wind turbine actually came from pupils on our school council.
“Our pupils are already concerned about our energy needs and wish to reduce the drain on our planet's resources.”
A graphic display in the school foyer will be hooked up to the turbine to show how much energy is being produced.
Mr Kilner also added the location of the turbine was chosen to reduce risk to pupils in the playground, whilst having minimal impact on neighbour's views.
“Locating the turbine adjacent to properties in Highworth Close would have been cheaper to install, have produced a similar electrical output but would have had a negative impact on the view from these properties and increased the chance of the sound of the blades being heard,” he said.
The installation will be predominately grant funded and Mr Kilner claims will have less impact on residents than a similar turbine already granted permission at Carrington School in Flackwell Heath
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