Wind turbine plans to be published

Thank you Jon for that link to the Somerset document. For all those who do not have the time to read it, and for the IOW planners, I have copied the two pertinent paragraphs below, paragraphs 1.4 and 1.5:

1.4 Bat species and their populations are afforded protection at a European level by the provisons of the Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 [the ‘Habitats Regulations]. Sedgemoor District Council also has a duty under regulations 9(1 & 5) of the Habitats Regulations to have regard for the requirements of the Habitats Directive. This requirement includes maintaining populations of European Protected Species in ‘favourable conservation status’.

1.5 With regard to wind turbines on January 10th, 2006 the European Court of Justice found against Germany, stating that, ‘It is not allowed to accept the intentional killing or risk of collision with bats.’ Therefore, it essential that the right locations in the District are chosen for allocating wind turbine developments.

There is unfortunately a vast difference between a policy and a strategy... Look here to see what a thorough environmental assessment looks like that enables effective planning policy to be put in place:

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=sedgemoor%20wind%20turbine%20bats&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sedgemoor.gov.uk%2FCHttpHandler.ashx%3Fid%3D7089%26p%3D0&ei=Ve2sT_S8HZK98gPX2pzpCg&usg=AFQjCNH_CDqas5LwS1Tu2I6bgK3vWlE4hA

I believe the Island as a whole is an inappropriate place to site wind turbines. Tourism is a large employer and economic contributer to the Island and people visit mostly because it's beautiful and peaceful. Turbines are not a tourist attraction (despite what some would have us believe) and I would be interested to hear opinions from anyone who believes they benefit and enhance the landscape and improve the lot of wildlife.

Island Plan, The Isle of Wight Council Core Strategy (including Minerals & Waste) and Development Management Policies DPD adopted March 2012 - PAGE 76 - How 5.225 "The provision of renewable energy on whatever scale will be driven by private land and property owners. REQUIRED MITIGATION "Siting of turbines away from potential bat and bird foraging and migration routes.

Looks like there is a limit on the comment length, so here's the missing piece:

Also please put in perspective the potential power generation from this proposal in relation to the available power within the existing infrastructure. It would need at least 140 of these wind turbines to match the output fron the East Cowes Power Station, and there are three 132KV submarine cables that connect the IW to the National Grid. The output from these 2 wind turbines is therefore toatlly inconsequential at local level, and insignificant at national level.

Why doesn't the IW have a blanket policy for wind power development, like Somerset, which has identieid the areas where there is a realistic prospect for success? This would save everyone concerned a great deal of time money and anxiety and minimise the number of cases such as this going to planning in the first place. (Incidently, this proposal would fail on several counts against the Somerset policy).

Firstly, I'm not against the general concept of wind turbines as part of a balanced energy policy at national level (accepting of course, as rightly pointed out in John Yelland's post, wind turbines are not a particularly effective or necessarily "green" contributer).

I am however staggered at this proposal due to the location, which is effectively a small "keyhole" in the Parkhurst Forest and adjacent Noke Plantation, both of which have records of small and vulnerable populations of hawking bats such as Noctule and Leisler's bats, and a nationally significant population of the threatened Barbastelle bat (there are many others, but these are the particularly sensitive ones). And then there is overbearing impact on the skyline and associated noise, shadow flicker, horse fright, etc, etc, that I'm sure will be widely voiced in the planning objections.

Also please put the scale of the potential power generation from this proposal in relation to power supply av

I am against these wind turbines. Homes living with in 2000 metres will no longer be able to enjoy there garden or leave a window open in the evening because of the monotonous noise. I recently strayed in Scotland and at first thought the wind turbines were very quiet but then this continuous noise penetrated my consciousness and I could no longer relax. England would be better iputting money into the Tidal energy as we can predict the tides we cannot predict wind nor the strength of the wind so having to use Gas as a back up defeats the object of clean energy

Thank you, Jane Dixon, you've summed up the feelings of many people.

I walk my 2 dogs in the Forest ,horrified at what effect these turbines will have on wildlife,especially the Buzzards,who soar hundreds of feet up,they will be decimated,& as to the poor souls who live within 2KM,their lives will be made a misery,I AM TOTALLY AGAINST THESE MONSTROSITIES,put them out to sea.

I've started so I'll finish!
£850 million of the government subsidies to assist the construction and maintenance of these wind farms is paid mainly to non-UK countries and is added to your electricity bills.

Any views or opinions presented in the comments above are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the Isle of Wight County Press.