LETTERS From Dr Kate Redrup, Wootton:
I WRITE to you having cycled to work this morning on yet another breezy day. Sadly, last night’s planning meeting showed our councillors have little concept of the power of this free source of energy.
In my opinion, the decision to reject the Wellow application was incredibly short-sighted: with respect to preserving our beautiful island as well as the EcoIsland concept.
It was clear most, if not all, of the councillors had already decided on rejection before the meeting started. Unfortunately, most of this decision appeared to be solely based on aesthetics, itself completely subjective.
Personally, I think turbines are beautiful feats of engineering and certainly no more intrusive than the new TV mast in the centre of the Island. Other concerns had been clearly proven by the applicant and independent consultant not to be a major issue.
Perhaps it is time the council started representing the views of all Island residents. I don’t just mean the typical NIMBYs, such as the one I spoke to who told me, "I’m all for renewable energy, just as long as wind energy is only out at sea."
The council would do very well to learn more about the various types of renewable energy it wishes to include in its 100 mW plan.
For example, tidal power would be great, except industrial-scale turbines are years away being ready for general use.
Solar panels and biomass can also be used but no one source of energy will ever be able to replace the coal, oil, gas and nuclear energy currently being consumed.
Fossil fuels are not only polluting but will also run out very shortly, especially at the current rate at which they are being used: not just as energy sources but in almost every plastic item we take for granted.
• More letters on this topic in the Friday, July 20, County Press.