The lives of young pilots based in Shropshire could be put at risk if controversial plans to build a wind farm get the go ahead, north Shropshire’s MP has warned.
Owen Paterson MP has written to defence secretary Des Browne calling on him to support objections to the proposed wind farm at Norton-in-Hales, near Market Drayton.
In his letter, Mr Paterson expresses concern that the lives of young pilots based at RAF Shawbury could be put at risk by “unnecessary extra dangers” on what is already a demanding course.
He says: “As Shawbury trains helicopter pilots for all three services I am very concerned at the extra risk that this proposal poses to inexperienced pilots.
“It seems quite wrong that young pilots’ lives should be put at risk by unnecessary extra dangers on what is already a demanding course.”
Mr Paterson has also written a 14-page letter to the chief executive of North Shropshire District Council, Nicola Yates, formally objecting to plans for the seven turbine wind farm.
He outlines a number of reasons why he thinks it should not be given approval and also expresses concern about the impact of the proposed wind farm on trainee pilots at RAF Shawbury.
Mr Paterson said: “It is exceptional for me to send a letter of this nature to North Shropshire District Council but I feel strongly that planning authorities such as NSDC are being put under intolerable pressure by the Government to force through its misguided policy on wind energy.
“I believe that this planning proposal would cause lasting damage to my constituents, to the local economy and environment and I hope that it will be rejected at the earliest opportunity.”
18 Comments
this is nonesense - i have a pilot licence, and i know it to be rubbish, if you cannot avoid a static object on the ground you should not be flying - this just shows the tories are not green at all they hate wind turbines because they are traditionalists, old fashioned backwards folk, and they have not changed at all
has owen cleared this policy with dave ‘turbine’ cameron first???
We should be supporting wind turbines surely?? We need the power and they deliver it in a green way, sure they are ugly but so is ironbridge power station, if we object to everything that is ugly we’ll have no development anywhere
Whats wrong with wind turbines ? I think they’re beautiful…
I’m inclined to agree with the point made by John Aymes; why is a wind turbine any more difficult for a pilot to avoid than any other structure? The pilots will obviously know they are there, they will have big red lights on them, etc.
Also, what does Owen Paterson mean by claiming that the wind farm would damage the local economy and harm his constituents? How? Is this letter to NSDC in the Public domain? if so, where can we read Mr Paterson’s reasoning?
And is there much feeling from the local residents that this is a bad idea? Do the residents want it thrown out, or the local MP?
Hear hear - we love wind turbines so clean green and beautiful
over paid out of touch - typical MP
our electricty bills are killing us and this guys trying to block power developments
get rid of him
with the wind turbines the pilots would not need to leave the ground with their own propellors in the sky, think of all the money you and i and the mod will save. whizzo angels five oh. any one for a tax rebate
carl, i think dave “turbine” cameron has his hands full with expenses claims at the moment.he might go into orbit if any other mp/mep should fall foul of the straight and narrow
There is no risk to pilots here - the mp is just trying to use this excuse to stop ugly wind turbines scarring our landscape - good for him - i say - they dont produce any power any way so that other comment about price is silly - they are just a way for electricity companies to get government subsidies and they should be blocked where ever they are proposed especially in our scenic shropshire
I was under the impression that helicopters bought by the MOD couldn’t fly anyway.
All wind farms both large and small are clearly marked on aeronautical maps, so they only cause problems to pilots flying in poor visibility using VFR rather than IFR.
These arguments against the turbines increasingly make me think of “straws” and “clutching”
indeed i imagine a wind turbine and an aeroplane look fairly similar to a radar - only thing is the turbine is not going anywhere so it should be easy to tell them apart
sounds like this anti-renewables MP is
a) against green energy
b) against his own party line
c) lacking knowledge about flying
d) out of touch with his own electorate
e) unconcerned about the planet
f) heading for the sack come the next election
darren is bang on - the mp is totally wrong - i am a pilot in scotland i fly over windturbines daily they are all mapped out for us and they DO show up on radar, very clearly, he’s clearly just anti wind - he should be honest in this and not use the RAF to cover his anti green agenda
i say anyone who is anti nuclear or wind - we just cut their electricity supply off - see how they like NO power at all
do people really believe the spin (excuse the pun)that wind farms are saving the planet? They do not produce cheap electric just ask the folks in Denmark with their high level of turbines how high their bills are (The highest in Europe). Turbines are only lining the pockets of the developers with tax payers money by way of indirect subsidies.
They produce such a small trickle of unpredictable power which is just as well because to have the Covernments aim of 15-20% renewable energy would risk destablising the national grid when we have no wind of the right speed to produce power.
So save us from the wholescale raping of our beautifull country by money hungry foreign wind power developers.
Wind farm at Norton-in-Hales, near Market Drayton
Driving through North Shropshire I saw a sign asking us to write to North Shropshire County Council regarding a proposed wind farm. What an excellent idea! This electricity would be a small start to Shropshire producing some of its own green electricity. At present most of our electricity is produced out of county. Others have to cope with dirty coal fired stations, polluting gas stations or unstable nuclear reactors so we can have electricity in our homes.
This modest 14MW is a small contribution to the counties needs but it is a start. Approximately 7000 homes will be covered. Owen Paterson MP should be ashamed with himself. One does reflect on how “green” is the Conservative Party’s energy plans.
How is green electricity to be produced? Would you put your money into a nuclear options? Accordimg to the Governments Chief Scientist, it would take 35 nuclear power stations to supply UK needs. Would you be happier for the proposal for this site to be for a nuclear plant? I for one cannot see the redevelopment of nuclear plants as anything other than a huge problem for our grandchildren, nor would the plants be ready in time. When you are opposing wind farms you are actually supporting nuclear power.
It always amazes me that the Countryside Alliances finds nuclear more attractive than wind. Nuclear power would leave large amounts of nuclear materials in the hands of multinationals. There is no proven strategy yet anywhere in the world to deal with nuclear waste.
The alternative: The UK is blessed with masses of free power, wind, solar and water. Wind technology is available now and, as the number of turbines increases, wind will increasingly supply on demand electricity (It is always windy somewhere in the UK). Add to this the large amount of energy available from tidal power that could be delivered over a shorter time scale than nuclear and we have an achievable vision.
A vision of the UK supplying its own green energy, not dependant on raw materials from other countries. At the end of the plants life cycle not a single bit of evidence of its existence.
To the family living 800 yards away that is complaining of the “noise” and the so called 30% reduction in the value of their property, I would ask which is more important. Evidence of all recently installed wind farms shows there is not a reduction in property values and at 800 yards any noise would be perceived, not actual.
To the objectors from Shawbury Airfield, I would be very anxious to think someone was in the air that was likely to fly into such an obvious hazard. Do we need to demolition our church spires?
Come on North Shropshire give it a big thumbs up
Len Marlow BSc
Broseley Wood