Carclaze wind turbine fears
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FIRMS that moved into a newly opened £20m St Austell business park are concerned about plans submitted to build a 100 foot high wind turbine at the site.A number of companies located at the prestigious St Austell Enterprise Park, which received £1m Objective One funding, object to the 80Kw machine being constructed in their vicinity because of concerns the structure would be detrimental to their businesses.
The wind turbine would generate electricity for a number of zero-carbon employment units planned and could potentially supply up to 50 per cent of the park’s electrical energy demand.
But a number of businesses have noise and overlooking worries as well as concerns the wind turbine would ruin the vista of St Austell Bay.
A Premier Inn spokesman said: “We put in an objection because of concerns about noise and customers trying to sleep. The company has got a night guarantee policy where we guarantee a good nights sleep. If our customers do not sleep obviously we would have to refund them in full.”
David Dunkley, a director at Parc Signs, added: “We have paid a lot of money to come up here, £1.2m. Why pay that sort of money to have a wind mill next to me?
“I think the wind turbine would be obtrusive because it would be too close to offices. “I’m not against wind turbines but it’s just in the wrong position. I worry if they get one up in three years time they will want to put up three more. It needs to go somewhere else.”
Lisa Payman, from Rowett Insurance, said: “We are the nearest unit to the potential wind turbine. It would only be 30 metres away so there are overshadowing issues. It’s a bit too close as far as we are concerned.
“We are also bothered about the noise generated and the impact it will have on the working conditions of the staff. Most of our window space is where the turbine would be. We do not have air conditioning so we have to have the windows open in the summer. The noise would be horrendous. Our block has not been designed to account for the installation of a large wind turbine.
“The view should be given consideration. The turbine would be a blot on the current stunning view of St Austell Bay. It would be the first impression of visitors entering from the A30.”
The proposed WES 18 Mark 1 wind turbine has an 18 metre diameter pair of rotary blades.
A spokesman for Ashdown Company, which is behind the scheme, said: “The estimated annual energy output will be in the range if 180 to 270 mWh pa based on wind maps published by the British Wind Energy Association and the manufacturers published data.
“The estimated electricity demand of the Ashdown Company buildings will be approximately 60 mWh pa.
“The wind turbine will be visible from the Scredda roundabout, partially screened by the tree planting in the foreground. Views from the footpath along the A391 will be screened by the steep bank up to the site from the road and by the buildings.”
