Sharon
I hope your energy appeals and wins. I have worked for a nuclear power station and there are the biggest eyesore there is. What we need is a mix of powerstations and turbines. not just more powerstations.
Steve C
Let's face it, we have a finite amount of fossil fuel left in the entire world, so like it or not, we will HAVE to embrace the idea of using renewable energy, unless of course we take the French approach and invest heavily in nuclear power. If we want to be warm and lit, we must accept the inevitable and stop being so obsessed about the market value of our homes as are the people living in the vicinity of these proposed wind "farms". I know what I would rather have, given the choice between light and warmth, or a nice equity....
Alan Jefferys
What a suprise, we want to be green but put them some where else. I would stop supplying these people Electricty. True NIMBY syndrome.
Leith
It would a real pitty if this oppertunity for Somerset to invest in renewable energy resources were to be missed. It could hardly be said that the views will be spoiled when there are already two nuclear reactors on the area of coast. I am currently working in an area of northern Portugal with many onshore wind turbines, none of the local residents I have spoken to here are opposed to the installations despite it being a partcularly beautiful area of countryside. In 2000 the United Nations sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change declared that "there has been a discernible human influence on global climate". This was based on over two decades of intesive research in the fields of climatology and ocean science. Given this and the fact that Britain's aging energy infrastructure is creaking to keep up with modern demands, it is highly annoying to see projects such as this halted by such childish, backward-looking nimbyism.
Ed
I think the price tag frightens people Mike. They are a better way of generating green energy though.
Gemma, there are perhaps two reasons why people oppose wind farms.
Firstly there is the visual impact that can be put down to nothing more than aethetic taste.
Secondly, if you wanted to replace nuclear power plants with wind power you'd have to build hundreds if not thousands at Hinkley alone. The whole coastline as far as Bridgwater would be covered in them. Even then they wouldn't work all the time - one day out of every four if it is the same as in Cornwall. Can you imagine how much damage that would do to the environment? If we were to dig up and concrete over many square miles of our countryside for the benefit of generating power, then we might as well kill it with pollution. It amounts to the same thing in the end. I have suggested either hydroelectric for the Parrett, perhaps being incorporated into the sea walls. Mikes idea for tidal power is also interesting.
Mark
With the second highest tidal range in the world, why isn't the power of the sea in Bridgwater Bay being harnessed? The natural force of the sea should be harnessed. Power generators beneath the waves are also completely invisible and can produce the same amount of power as wind turbines.
Gemma
I'm confused as to why people could oppose such wonderful inventions as wind farms. They produce healthy energy which is surely a preference against nuclear energy. I think the residents need to re think their priorities.
Lynda P
I hope the energy company appeals and is successful! It is mind blowing that in this day and age people are against wind farms. I would consider having one in my field if it brought electricity prices down.
James G
I’m a 15 year old school boy who lives just over 1000m away from the proposed development. Some of the comments that people have made here disgust me. Not just because of uninformed decisions being made but also the stereotypical views held by one poster in particular. Just to set the record straight, no one in my family owns a 4x4 and neither do any of my friends, so please keep your stereotyping to yourself. Also, there are recycling facilities available in the nearby village of Stogursey, approximately 1 mile away. Many people who have posted seem to have the idea that these wind farms, or should I say factories as they are industrial, will mysteriously prevent climate change. This is wrong. Research by Swiss and German scientists in 2004 has suggested that increased radiation from the sun is responsible for recent global changes, NOT human activity. Throughout the Earth’s history, our planet has undergone Ice ages and hot periods- long before the advent of man. So, how exactly are CO2 emissions responsible for this? Climate change is a natural phenomenon. It was around about the last Ice Age, 13,000 yrs ago that the current cycle began. The ice–cap retreated because of a change in the Earth’s axis and its orbit around the sun. Then, about 2 millenia later, it became cold again. Afterwards came another hot age that caused melted ice to fill the English Channel, making us an island. Climate change has been happening ever since. My personal views against the wind farm are not a case of “Not in my back yard.” Looking at the facts and figures attributed to wind turbines it soon becomes clear that for what they are, wind turbines are just not worth it. The amount of electricity that is produced is tiny. One of the proposed wind turbines at West Hinkley would produce a maximum of 2 megawatts, and that’s if the wind is blowing. To contrast that, Hinkley B produces 1200 megawatts, and is almost constantly working, as well as producing hundreds of jobs for local people. So, to replace Hinkley B a wind farm of 600 turbines working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week would be needed to replace it. I ask Mike if he has any evidence to support his claim that Wind Turbines are healthier for us then the current Nuclear Power Plant. Above all, I ask people to look at all the facts and figures and to make an educated decision regarding wind power.
Chris - Somerset Resident
I'm not suprised by the decision, because as usual, it's a case of "we support ... but not anywhere near where I live in case it affects my cosy life in some way. Maybe these residents should consider what effect their selfish attitude is having on the rest of the world.
Roger
Wind farms produce only a drop in the ocean of the overall energy used daily. Unless they hydrolyse water into hydrogen & oxygen for combustion in hydrogen powered vehicles and aeroplanes then they are only ever going to scratch the surface of all energy needs
Sophie Drake
We need to act now to prevent climate change. The manner in which a person's life might be affected by the wind farm is nothing to the devastation climate change could cause.
N Tropy - Somerset
When half of Somerset is under the sea again, as it was thousands of years ago, because carbon emissions have caused massive global climate change and the sea level has risen, and the people who repeatedly campaign against environmentally-responsible lose their homes to the waves, who will they complain to? Thinking about it, they probably won't complain, because they'll be too busy driving their 4x4s to the beach to walk their dog, or to the supermarket to recycle half a dozen bottles.
Ed
Ian has a point; decentralizing power generation would be more efficient as you wouldn't need all the pylons and such-like.
Wouldn't hydroelectric, wave and tidal power be better than wind? They generate more power continuously and are more reliable. The wind turbines at Hinkley would have been much taller than the nuclear power station. They would have needed roads to ennable their construction, miles of cables and pylons to link them to the National Grid and approximately 1000 tons of concrete each to fix them in the ground. You'd need 2060 turbines to replace Hinkley A, so we should really be looking to some other form of green energy. Wind has its points, but we shouldn't view it as the only way forward.
Ben
I think its a shame this proposal was turned down. Unfortunately its another example of not in my back yard even though the benfits outway any downsides. If we don't start introducing more renewable sources of energy soon where will it leave us. Would people prefer to see a wind farm or a new Nuclear Power station built?
Mick W
People complain about the environment all the time. I think that the windmill farm would be a good idea, It’s the same as all things, people are stuck in a rut and don’t like change. I say if they went up after a few weeks people would not take any notice of them and they would just become part of Somerset just like the wicker man did.
They say about the wildlife (bats) well Hinkley point stopped fish being sucked in to the inlet pipe with sounders to drive the fish away from the pipes, why not do the same with the Bats and Birds?
Kevin Steer
Good Decision
We need more nuclear power stations for the future energy needs
Kevin Dean ex pat. now USA
I just smiled when I read your report as to why the wind farm at West Hinkley was opposed....The blades could "FLY OFF" and hit the power station or some thing eles in the area. IF!, a blade were to break (for God only knows what reason) the shear weight of it would bring it crashing to the foot of the tower. Not go "Flying" through the air. The blades rotating at max speed would just not produce enough centrifugal force to make them "FLY". It's wind turbines blades that are under discussion not rotor blades on a helicopter.
As for the argument about them being an eye sore! That Power Station had to be built to supply "POWER" and I can remember the same old crys of "It will be an eye sore!". Well "Love is in the eye of the beholder" and I think they are really great looking; And just like "Dafodils"...They look better in bunches... Behold! A host of turning turbines turning with the breeze.
From near or far. By foot or car.
They look like crazy dancing trees.
With every hour they churn out "Power".
All for our comfort and a nice warm shower.
Don't "Bitch" when you flick that switch.
Just agree cos' it's FREE!
Lynne Wilcox
I think wind farms are wonderful, such a great way to use natural resources. We toured Germany and were impressed by the wind turbines everywhere.
Mike
I think wind power generation is great - it's far healthier for us and the environment than nuclear power plants like Hinkley
Nick
im a student living in North somerset and have been to the area many times. why is it that the council never listen to the people who are to live there in the future, from what i saw most of the children in the area supported the idea they are the ones who will live there in the years to come, so why not ask them. also did i hear someone on the tv mention it would be an eyesore, you got to nuclear power stations there i thinks thats more of a eyesore plus.
Ian
Rather than going for big installations why don't the council encourage small- scale windmills on private homes?
