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Totteridge school's windmill plan thrown out

12:41pm Thursday 5th November 2009


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.


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Your Say YourBucks

Save Wycombe, High Wycombe says...
1:54pm Thu 5 Nov 09

Mindless nimbyism - they should be ashamed

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SDJones, Hazlemere says...
2:11pm Thu 5 Nov 09

ugly looking thing though im not sure why the kids would be disappointed im sure they couldnt give a stuff

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dw123, High Wycombe says...
2:54pm Thu 5 Nov 09

SDJones : It was the pupils at the school who had the idea for the wind turbine, so of course they are deeply disappointed.

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.

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DeepThinker, Wycombe says...
9:24pm Thu 5 Nov 09

Flipping heck DW. You make it sound as if the children are going to be scarred for life and need some sort of trauma treatment because their idea wasn't accepted!
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If in doubt, tug at the heart strings and say .."but it was for the children".
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cezyboo, high wycombe says...
10:45pm Thu 5 Nov 09

SD Jones - Your right, Its probably been hyped up by the teachers anyway, thats why their so disappointed. I'm sure the children will move onto something else very quickly.
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.

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trotskee, High Wycombe says...
11:28pm Thu 5 Nov 09

DW123 - Perhaps after the Councillors explain the real-life concerns about the turbine, the headmaster of the school might want to speak to the pupils about all the other "green" initiatives they have put in place, why the school bulldozed an old orchard to make a playground, why they took down other trees to extend the car park, and why he drives a large 4 x 4 gas guzzling beast of a car. The local residents are not "nimbys" as you put it, nor are they ill-informed. They simply made valid points that there are many other ways of saving energy without the need for this turbine.

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monkey girl, high wycombe says...
6:22pm Fri 6 Nov 09

The headmaster said he wished to shape young minds. If you look at the letter the children sent to the local council they spoke of the local jobs the turbine would bring and how once they had the turbine they would have more money for treats and trips. No wonder they are upset if they had been fed such false information

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J B Blackett, High Wycombe says...
1:11am Mon 9 Nov 09

It would appear there has been Lots of 'Spin' put on this Windmill project by this reputedly gas-guzzling headmaster.
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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.
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I think this headmaster needs re-educating or perhaps he already has been by an eager windmill salesman.

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Grandaddyo, High Wycombe says...
12:13pm Sat 21 Nov 09

I understand that the trees in the orchard were cut down because they were so diseased they were dangerous - and other trees have been planted.
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 turbine is now up and running again The wind turbine at Carrington Junior School


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