Coming soon to a park near you?
It looks like something out of a science fiction movie – but a giant wind turbine with a viewing platform at its top could soon be built in a park near you.
Leicester City Council wants the 450ft, energy-generating windmill to be erected in Western Park, off Hinckley Road.
A similar turbine is already up and running in the Norfolk town of Swaffham, and as well as being a tourist attraction it produces enough electricity for 1,500 homes a year.
Its viewing platform – accessible by lift or stairs – has been visited by more than 50,000 people since it opened in 1999.
The Western Park proposal is one of six giant wind turbines planned for the city's parks and golf courses, but would be the only structure with a public area with views across the city and county.
Leicester City Council wants to put the other turbines on land in Beaumont Park, Castle Hill Park and Ashton Green – all in Beaumont Leys – as well as Humberstone Heights golf course, near Hamilton, and land near Western Park golf course, in Braunstone Frith.
All have been identified as suitable areas for normal turbines.
To move the plans forward, council bosses are testing the preferred areas to ensure the soil could hold energy-generating windmills.
Councillor Robert Wann, the cabinet member for the environment, says that the Western Park turbine would inspire visitors to take an interest in renewable energy, and complement the nearby Eco House.
Coun Wann said: "We are moving forward with the wind turbine proposals, which I am very excited about. I think they are wonderful things.
"I have visited one with a viewing area and it would be incredible to have one here. You could see across Leicester, or to Bradgate Park.
"It would be inspirational, educational and attract many people.
"Western Park already has a reputation for being green, especially because of the Eco House, so I think it would be a good area for it."
The turbines plan comes from a city council pledge to obtain 20 per cent of its energy from local renewable sources by 2025.
A single two-megawatt turbine would cost more than £3 million and would produce enough energy for about 1,000 homes every year.
The turbines would probably be higher than Leicester's tallest building, the BT exchange in Wharf Street South, which is 275ft high.
The initial reaction from city residents seems positive.
Western Park resident Howard Mitchell said: "I think they are beautiful things, and as long as they were not too noisy or made house prices drop, I wouldn't mind having one near my home.
"They are all over Europe, and I don't understand why we don't have more."
Mum-of-two Harriet Grange, of Glenfield said: "I think it would be a wonderful thing to take people up, and especially exciting for children. I know mine would love to go up."
The turbines would be paid for from a mix of council funds and investment from the private sector.
One major energy company has already expressed an interest in the project.
When installed, energy could be sold to the National Grid or provided just for households in Leicester. At the moment, just a fraction of power to heat homes and businesses comes from so-called green energy.
23 Comments
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by Byron Getwinfrei, Leicester
Monday, February 23 2009, 3:31PM
“Yeah, but how are we going to stop the aliens crashing into it like they did in Lincolnshire?
do you want a smashed-up alien spacecraft crashing into your garden, 'cos *I* don't!”
by Paul, Hamilton
Monday, February 23 2009, 1:03PM
“N Patel Nuclear is not a short term option there is enough ore for Nuclear Power for a couple of centuries at least and that is on current designs. Technology efficiencies are improving all the time. Also Nuclear power has the advantage it will run 100% of the time. That is why France has some of the lowest emissions in the whole of Europe.”
by Pete, Leicester
Monday, February 23 2009, 12:55PM
“I absolutely agree with N Patel, the Burton Wold Windfarm is a tranquil beautiful place - I certainly didn't suffer from excessive vibration or whatever particle oscillation some people are banging on about. Renewable energy is the only way forward to avoid destroying the earth¿s capacity to handle human life - deal with it.”
by N Patel, Leicester
Monday, February 23 2009, 10:48AM
“All the doubters - can I suggest you visit Burton Wold windfarm near Burton Latimer / Kettering? There is no "unbelievable vibration", dead birds or mad dogs. Just beautiful machines generating loads of power. It's easy to get very close to them too, awesome things. No radioactive waste to worry about or fuel that's going to run out- what more could you want?”
by SB, Enderby
Friday, February 20 2009, 3:54PM
“Aesthetically, turbines are surely better looking than electricity pylons!!
Agree with others on here tho,they are only part of the answer .”
by Cllr Phil King, Kibworth, Leics
Friday, February 20 2009, 3:52PM
“I wonder if residents around these areas, have realised that the prososed GIANT windmills are nearly a 1/4 of a mile high ?
Also I wonder if Commissar Willmotts and his labour cronies have properly investigated the potential impact as identified by the World Health organisation on health of nearby residents by the low frequency vibration waves and particle ossicilation?
What is the safe distance for someone to be from one of these?”
by y.s., Leics
Friday, February 20 2009, 2:48PM
“Those who complain about putting anything anywhere please tell me if you can do without light, heat and a roof over your head. If you cant please dont expect anyone else to go without either.
There is going to be a time when scenery is going to be secondary to necessity.”
by David, Wigston
Friday, February 20 2009, 2:11PM
“Well put Kate though not quite a waste of money as wind turbines have one and only one use - to make money for the manufacturer! As the average wind turbine can only generate power for 25% of the time how do we provide power for the other 75% of the time. If not nuclear then it'll be more coal burning power stations - very clean! In the long term fusion power will hopefully become a reality but in the meantime nuclear is the only answer. Would N Patel also close down the NHS because of it's "dirty radioactive waste" ?”
by thompson, Leicester
Friday, February 20 2009, 2:10PM
“Wind Farms on Parks I ask why not include the Walkers Stadium the tigers ground Welford road and Leicester race course and other open areas used by the very ritch to be included in the alucation of wind farms”
by Liza, France
Friday, February 20 2009, 2:02PM
“It is far preferable, practically and aesthetically, to have the turbines sited in clusters. They do produce energy,they are the way forward,they are sustainable and they are truly elegant and a delight. Fear of them is in the mind and needs to be erased.”