PRESS RELEASE 3rd December 2008

“KILLER” ICE FALLS FROM WIND TURBINES

FLAT has for some time been trying to highlight the potential dangers associated with building wind turbines in populated onshore locations.  One specific danger that we have pointed out is the issue of “ice throw” which occurs when ice builds up on the turbine blades and is then thrown off in large, potentially lethal lumps.

This problem (along with so many others) has been denied by the wind farm developers and in fact Marshland Wind Farm Ltd considered it to be a joke!!  A cartoon which appeared in their most recent newsletter attempted to ridicule our claims!!  However this was not a joke to the terrified residents of Whittlesey who had to run for their lives when lumps of ice up to two feet long showered their homes and gardens on Saturday morning.  The following quote appeared in the Peterborough Evening Telegraph:  Resident Peter Randal whose son’s house lies a stone’s throw away from the turbine said “Somebody is going to get killed.  There was huge lumps of ice shooting off and landing everywhere.  No one wants to leave the house because they are frightened and worried about the ice falling”.

The incident has again highlighted the safety issue associated with building turbines close to houses, roads, public footpaths and bridleways.  MP Malcolm Moss has called for a new risk assessment to be undertaken and says that the problem could also have national implications.

Lyndon Mason Chairman of FLAT today said “yet again the information given by FLAT has been proven to be correct and the Developers have been shown to be, at the very least, misleading people, but I would go as far as to say that they have been caught out telling yet more lies.  You have to ask yourself what else they are lying about, especially in relation to the proposal to built 19 massive 140m high wind turbines around Marshland St James, Tilney and Outwell.  We would urge everyone who is concerned about this development to object immediately.  This can be done via Geoff Hall, Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk, Kings Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 1EX . e-mail:  geoff.hall@west-norfolk.gov.uk.    Alternatively you can comment via the Borough Council website within the Public Access section of the planning portal.  The Borough Council’s planning reference is 08/02365/S36.

A copy of your objection should also be sent to Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change , C/O Gareth Leigh, BERR, 1 Victoria Street, London, SW1H 0ET.  e-mail: Gareth.Leigh@berr.gsi.gov.uk.  If you want to appear at any future public enquiry you also need to register your intention with Gareth Leigh by the 15th December.  And of course remember to keep a copy for your own records.”

FLAT can be contacted via our website www.flat-group.co.uk by writing to FLAT, PO Box 182, Wisbech, PE14 4BL or by telephoning 07789 524850.   Please distribute this information as widely as possible – we now need your to help to defeat this application!

The FLAT Committee