What is the likely impact on Nocton Fen?
We had a lovely walk around Wasp's Nest over the bank holiday weekend and took some photos of Nocton Fen from various points along our route.
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| Viewpoint 1 |
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| Viewpoint 2 |
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| Viewpoint 3 |
When I arrived home, out of pure curiosity, I decided to try and calculate the height of various structures already situated on the fen, in order to try and envisage the impact of the proposed wind turbines on the vista. Using the photograph (Viewpoint 2), I calculated the red brick house in the foreground to be around 35 feet in height, the anaerobic digesters in the middle ground to be 26 feet in height (as per the planning application) and the Bardney Sugar Beet factory in the far distance at 130 feet in height.
Given that the wind turbines planned for the fen are 150 metres in height to the tip of the blade (487 feet), one can begin to get an impression of how twenty three of these structures might impact on the terrain.
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| Wind turbines |
If the first turbine was to be situated not far from the red house, it would be approximately 14 times the height of that building. If other turbines were to be situated near to the anaerobic digesters, they would be in the region of 19 times the height of the domed vessels. If turbines were to be located on the horizon near Bardney sugar beet factory, a turbine would be around 3.75 times the height of the facility. I was quite surprised at the size of these structures in comparison.
It will be imperative for Vattenfall to publish some proper scale visual perspectives to enable people to judge the true impact of the turbines on the views across Nocton Fen. However, I do feel this has started to put some things into perspective for me.
Finally, we also came across a bat detector near to the wood above the fen - presumably part of the environmental studies that are taking place prior to the submission of any formal planning application.
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| Bat detector |
Wind turbines: the future of renewable energy or a blight on UK countryside?
'The wind farms debate rages on as the need for renewable energy grows.'
http://www.theecologist.org/investigations/energy/1258482/wind_turbines_the_future_of_renewable_energy_or_a_blight_on_uk_countryside.html
Excellent work Geoff. I believe Vattenfall will be publishing projected pictures of how the wind farm would impact on the landscape. I suspect some will be from long range distances. It is possible we might be given some idea at the planned Vattenfall consultations in June? but I'm not sure.
ReplyDeleteTo me wind turbines can only be described as GRAFFITI on the landscape, as I said at the public debate.
There are numerous bat detectors planted by AMEC for Vattenfall's ecological surveys scattered all over the fen. I saw one numbered 18 down Nocton delph the other day.
Incidentally I heard the other day from a shopkeeper in Metheringham that no one who came in the shop supported the idea of a wind farm at Nocton.
Hopefully the public are coming to see this proposed development for what it is.
Richard
A tranquil and wonderful view of Nocton Fen that we regularly walk come rain or shine.
ReplyDeletePerhaps if William Wordsworth was alive today he could of written:
" I Wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden grey turbines
Beside the fen, above the trees,
Turning and howling in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of Nocton Fen
Twenty three I saw at a glance,
Turning their heads in an awful dance"
Alas he is now gone but would turn in his grave at such a sight. Why oh do we have to destroy it!
Hi Mick
ReplyDeleteThat is absolutely brilliant. What else can I say.
Richard
Thank you very much Geoff, Mick
ReplyDeleteand Richard for making the effort to raise the awareness of local people to the proposed industrial scale development on the Fen of the 23 giant turbines confirmed now to be the tallest onshore in the U.K. and the size of the wind farm to be the largest so far. Unfortunately,if it were to happen it would have a significant impact on the amenity of the fen. Cathy Ward P.N.F.
Thank you Geoff, Richard and Mick... we need this quality of input to show people just what is being planned for Nocton Fen and the impact it will have, not just here but on the villages round about. The photographs are beautiful and show just how wonderful this site is and the poem says it all. Having lived at Nocton Fen for many years I have seen so many people using this beautiful landscape for walking, photography,painting and sketching, bird watching, horse riding, dog walking ... you name it people come here all year round to enjoy the wide open views and the beauty of this lovely fenland. To destroy all this, turning it into an industrial site with all the implications for destruction of wildlife, loss of the beautiful views and likely adverse health implications for the people who live here is a sacrilege. Where will everyone go when this place is spoiled? All this for a source of energy which is neither cheap nor green and cannot keep the lights on without constant back-up from coal fired power stations.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cathy and Diane. We need to really make people aware that Nocton Fen would become an industrial site if the proposed wind farm were to be built.
ReplyDeleteThey say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the tragedy is that some people, especially those who are pushing for wind farms not only in fenland areas but also for example in the mountainous regions of Scotland seem not to be able to fully appreciate what a rich and beautiful land and sea scape we have in so may areas of the British Isles.
In the words of the poet WH Davies: "What is this life if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare...."
Richard
My wife and I have just returned from viewing the Vattenfall presentation in Metheringham. On getting home we decided to pace out (approx) 149.5 metres to get some concept of the proposed size. This is an execise we strongly recommend everyone does to visualise the height of 1 of these turbines. Now try to imagine 23 of these! Lincolnshire is famed for many things not least for its countryside, agriculture and Lincoln Cathedral. Lincoln Catherdral is 83m tall so each of these turbines will be nearly twice the height of the Cathedral. Just read an article from the National Geographic that states "As wind energy production expands around the world, engineers have identified a nagging problem: When a wind turbine spins, its blades create disturbances in the air that can reduce the amount of energy produced. This turbulence, or "wake," can cut a wind farm's power output by 10 to 20 percent." Already knew from numerous sources that wind turbines are one of the least efficient forms of energy. Vattenfall also confirmed that that they would need to pile drive to form a foundation for each of the 23 turbines. Based on their size I assume that will be a major industrial operation. Can't begin to imagine the extent of disturbance to residents within many miles and to wildlife that will caused - I don't know how long that part of the operation would take?. You have possibly guessed that I will be opposing this development and will help in any way I can to stop it Phil Scott.
ReplyDelete