Letter: Power of the panel
As a former member of the County Planning Committee, and ex-chairman of the Resources Committee, I have always taken an interest in the aesthetic and financial consequences of developments in Shropshire.
Three years ago I considered applying for permission to erect a wind turbine on my land near Whitemere. My elder son, who now lives at The Lyth, runs a small computer company, and knows more than most people about electricity.
He rapidly convinced me that our needs would be best met by some banks of solar panels. These have since been constructed, are financially more efficient than a turbline, and are almost invisible to the public.
From Tetchill we can see the turbine at Winston Farm, and another near Lower Hordley. They seem to do the necessary job for each farm, and still provide surplus to the grid. Neither is over 300 feet high!
Ellesmere in general, and Tetchill in particular, are both in an area of great natural beauty. For this reason the area around is full of tourists who admire the local countryside. They also appreciate the economic advances which have been made over the decades to keep the local population employed.
None of the latter are unsuitable for the locality.
I have nothing against the need for a wind turbine on a local farm, but the size of the turbine must take account of other matters – in this case of the effect on the countryside around.
It is quite clear that the power generated by a turbine of this size would not be for the farm in which it would be sited, but as a means of procuring income.
Even the barge traffic on the canal would see this monstrosity from a great distance! Less than half the height would provide more than enough power for the owner's local needs.
Lionel Jebb
Ellesmere
