Totteridge school's windmill plan thrown out (From Bucks Free Press)
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Totteridge school's windmill plan thrown out
12:41pm Thursday 5th November 2009 in
PLANS for a 15m wind turbine at a Totteridge school have been thrown out after an outcry from residents.
Wycombe District Council's planning committee went against the recommendation of its officers by refusing the plan for a £25,000 windmill at Highworth Combined School in Highworth Close.
The council had received 47 letters of objection from people fearing it would blight their view and damage local wildlife.
Highworth headmaster Graeme Kilner submitted the application and believes the turbine would benefit pupils and show a commitment to green energy usage.
He told the Bucks Free press after the decision: “I'm disappointed at the outcome and so are the children.
“I was disappointed that they referred to 47 objections because some of those people don't even live in High Wycombe.
“We believe the turbine would have less impact than the one at Carrington School in Flackwell Heath and that was allowed.”
He said the school's governors would consider an appeal against the decision.
Ten councillors voted against the plan, one voted in it its favour and another abstained.
Comments(9)
SDJones
says...
2:11pm Thu 5 Nov 09
dw123
says...
2:54pm Thu 5 Nov 09
The planning officers suggested that the wind turbine should be painted grey to "blend into" the background better, and despite every planning officer recommending approval, the councillors denied planning permission, based on alledged feedback from residents living close to the existing wind turbine at Carrington, despite not a single official complaint about it ever being received by the council.
I would like to invite one of the councillors involved to visit the school and speak at an assembly to explain face-to-face to the upset pupils why the pupils' very real concerns about their future environment have been allowed to be brushed aside by ill-informed scaremongering by a handful of NIMBYs.
Shame on them and the councillors involved.
DeepThinker
says...
9:24pm Thu 5 Nov 09
-
If in doubt, tug at the heart strings and say .."but it was for the children".
-
cezyboo
says...
10:45pm Thu 5 Nov 09
Dw123 - I hear "to be brushed aside by ill-informed scaremongering by a handful of NIMBYs." was presented very professionally and factual on the night in question! I'm sure there are many other ways in which the children can help the environment. They just need to be encouraged to do so or visit their Environmental Centre.
trotskee
says...
11:28pm Thu 5 Nov 09
monkey girl
says...
6:22pm Fri 6 Nov 09
J B Blackett
says...
1:11am Mon 9 Nov 09
.
There is a high energy attenuation factor associated with windmills plus of course , no wind - no output. You will be doing well if the device works at about 30% efficiency. And the energy and environmental costs for the structure and materials would take scores of years to recover if at all.
.
I think this headmaster needs re-educating or perhaps he already has been by an eager windmill salesman.
Grandaddyo
says...
12:13pm Sat 21 Nov 09
I also believe that the car park was extended so staff did not have to park outside and increase the congestion which local residents find so frustrating.
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The wind turbine at Carrington Junior School
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Save Wycombe says...
1:54pm Thu 5 Nov 09