Villagers move to halt Eden's plan for turbine
Angry villagers have demanded the Eden Project withdraws its plans to build a 127-metre-high wind turbine on the site of the tourist destination.
The Eden Neighbours' Forum says it has received a staggering number of complaints about the plans from people who are genuinely concerned about the impact it will have on their lives.
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Meg Prater, chair of the forum, said: "It has been decided to ask the Eden management to withdraw the present proposal and to research other methods of attaining the extremely worthwhile goal of sourcing an alternative supply which will not impact on the daily lives of Eden's neighbours."
It comes as Eden confirmed the decision about whether the turbine will be built will be delayed until January 29, 2009, to allow local residents more time to research the proposal.
They have also agreed to raise a helium balloon to a height of 127 metres from the point where the turbine would stand to show the size that the turbine will be, in response to concerns about the height and at the request of neighbours.
Eden bosses say they have researched several means of generating electricity but concluded that a single wind turbine is the most energy and cost efficient solution available.
Residents have been campaigning against the plans for weeks, blockading the entrances to the Eden Project and wielding placards in protest.
They are now calling on Eden to rethink the approach to powering the project through a single turbine and research other ways of producing green energy.
The Eden Project has filed an application to build the turbine at the north end of the site to power the charity throughout the year, which currently spends around £500,000 on electricity annually.
Protesters claim the turbine will be a blot on the landscape, are concerned about the noise and health effects and have insisted that there has been little consultation between Eden and local villagers about the plans.
7 Comments
by jim, kernow
Tuesday, December 02 2008, 1:30PM
“Why don't they just cut down on the amount of electricity they use. Isn't that a simple (and cheap) solution? After all, how has ice skating saved the planet?”
by Mike, St Austell
Friday, November 14 2008, 11:16AM
“Eden aren't saying that it's got to be 127m high (not 130) just to be annoying, but because the advice from people who know about these things tells them that it will provide the power they need. There isn't much point in building a turbine that's too small for purpose just to please the neighbours.”
by Terry, Tregrehan
Thursday, November 13 2008, 11:39PM
“Actually some neighbours have come up with a compromise solution - make it smaller. But Eden have said it's 130 meteres high or nothing.”
by Ian, Lanlivery
Thursday, November 13 2008, 6:16PM
“the argument that wind turbines are of detriment to health is pathetic. If protesters dont like the look of it then just say so”
by Adam, Wadebridge
Thursday, November 13 2008, 9:38AM
“And I am staggered by the quality of the journalism from our local press surrounding this issue.
Antagonistic.
I would urge the Eden protestors to try and come up with a better solution. If Eden haven't been smart enough to think of a different solution perhaps the local community can.
People are often very good at protesting, but very bad at offering solutions.”
by Terry, Tregrehan
Wednesday, November 12 2008, 12:53PM
“Not sure about what makes someone 'stagger' - but as of last week there were 91 letters of objection at Resormel (almost all from the villages around Eden) and 3 of support (one from Surrey). Whether people are for or against, I would urge them to voice their opinions through the planning process and write to Restormel Planning.”
by Jim, Penwithick
Wednesday, November 12 2008, 11:31AM
“So how do we define a 'staggering number of complaints' then? Given that they would be staggered by nil response, I'll assume that's what they've had and that they are 'staggered' that their visionless self-interest group is not capturing the public imagination.
As a neighbour of Eden in the village that will have the best view over Eden's planned development, I've personally been 'staggered' by the amount of favourable comment I've heard from local people. Bring it on - and we say stuff the BANANA* brigade!
(* Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything)”