Comments on: Stroud is Proud to Back Wind http://blog.stroud5050.org/2009/11/25/stroud-is-proud-to-back-wind/ You have the power to choose Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:36:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9-rare hourly 1 By: pauleco http://blog.stroud5050.org/2009/11/25/stroud-is-proud-to-back-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-987 pauleco Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:36:06 +0000 http://blog.stroud5050.org/?p=117#comment-987 Just in case you still have the voting bug - there's a vote on "Should wind farms be allowed in and around the Cotswold AONB?" over at the <a href="http://cotswold.greatbritishlife.co.uk/" rel="nofollow">Cotswold Life website</a>... Just scroll down - it's on the left hand side at the bottom. Just in case you still have the voting bug – there’s a vote on “Should wind farms be allowed in and around the Cotswold AONB?” over at the Cotswold Life website…

Just scroll down – it’s on the left hand side at the bottom.

]]> By: Alex Alliston http://blog.stroud5050.org/2009/11/25/stroud-is-proud-to-back-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-841 Alex Alliston Tue, 12 Jan 2010 05:50:36 +0000 http://blog.stroud5050.org/?p=117#comment-841 Normally you will find it is the objectors who make the biggest noise. The fact that 90% of those who could be bothered to respond do support the development of a wind farm is indicative that the majority are in support. You only have to look at the response to the Blue Coat School's (Wotton under Edge) planning application for a small wind turbine, to see how much noise protestors make. Stroud recieved 104 written responses of which 68% were in opposition and 19% were in support. The oppositon was highly organised which resulted in this high percentage of responses, so 19% support is quite impressive; planning applications are more often contested than supported. However two petitions were also submitted, 420 in favour and around 200 against. This demonstrated that there was a "silent majority" in favour. Phil Skill, head of planning for Stroud District Council, said: “With renewable technology so topical, this 15 metre tall, six kilo-watt turbine has created more interest, both for and against, than applications we have had for major housing developments. As a planning authority it’s great to see people becoming engaged in the process.” Normally you will find it is the objectors who make the biggest noise. The fact that 90% of those who could be bothered to respond do support the development of a wind farm is indicative that the majority are in support. You only have to look at the response to the Blue Coat School’s (Wotton under Edge) planning application for a small wind turbine, to see how much noise protestors make.

Stroud recieved 104 written responses of which 68% were in opposition and 19% were in support. The oppositon was highly organised which resulted in this high percentage of responses, so 19% support is quite impressive; planning applications are more often contested than supported. However two petitions were also submitted, 420 in favour and around 200 against. This demonstrated that there was a “silent majority” in favour.

Phil Skill, head of planning for Stroud District Council, said: “With renewable technology so topical, this 15 metre tall, six kilo-watt turbine has created more interest, both for and against, than applications we have had for major housing developments. As a planning authority it’s great to see people becoming engaged in the process.”

]]> By: Xena http://blog.stroud5050.org/2009/11/25/stroud-is-proud-to-back-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-591 Xena Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:50:54 +0000 http://blog.stroud5050.org/?p=117#comment-591 Ah, Stroud Life... everyone reads that cos it's so interesting ;o) I still think it's a pretty good picture of what people want. And as for apathy, well, Skunk Anansie didn't seem to mind it too much! I believe the number of turbines would need to be around 16 As for "car sized" blocks of ice... not sure it really gets cold enough in Stroud for that! Ah, Stroud Life… everyone reads that cos it’s so interesting ;o) I still think it’s a pretty good picture of what people want. And as for apathy, well, Skunk Anansie didn’t seem to mind it too much!
I believe the number of turbines would need to be around 16
As for “car sized” blocks of ice… not sure it really gets cold enough in Stroud for that!

]]> By: John Thorpe http://blog.stroud5050.org/2009/11/25/stroud-is-proud-to-back-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-543 John Thorpe Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:50:28 +0000 http://blog.stroud5050.org/?p=117#comment-543 Considering the amount of exposure this campaign was given with editorials and double pages ads in Stroud Life I think this result is just a count of those committed to the cause, with a few objections based on "Not in my back yard" arguements. The general public appear to be largely apathetic about the whole thing! This is about as a big an indicator of a "silent majority" being for this as an election where a party is voted in on 38% of the votes from a turnout of 35%. The party then claims "mandate" when in fact only 13% of the population actually voted for them - it's a fog of statistics. I still can't seem to find actual figures for the number of turbines that would be needed to deliver ON AVERAGE 50% of Stoud's power or would it actually just be in ideal conditions? These are two very different things entirely. Remember when the wind doesn't blow there is no power, when it blows too hard they have to be shut down for safety, when it is very snowy and icy you have to watch out for car sized blocks of ice being hurled across the landscape. In all of these cases base load (coal, gas, nuclear) has to take over and Stroud gets 0% of it's energy from wind. In order to really say it gets 50% on any meaningful level it should be getting near 90% in ideal conditions, and that would be a LOT of turbines. Wind has it's place, but will only ever be a contributor and not a major player on any meaningful level. Considering the amount of exposure this campaign was given with editorials and double pages ads in Stroud Life I think this result is just a count of those committed to the cause, with a few objections based on “Not in my back yard” arguements. The general public appear to be largely apathetic about the whole thing!
This is about as a big an indicator of a “silent majority” being for this as an election where a party is voted in on 38% of the votes from a turnout of 35%. The party then claims “mandate” when in fact only 13% of the population actually voted for them – it’s a fog of statistics.
I still can’t seem to find actual figures for the number of turbines that would be needed to deliver ON AVERAGE 50% of Stoud’s power or would it actually just be in ideal conditions? These are two very different things entirely. Remember when the wind doesn’t blow there is no power, when it blows too hard they have to be shut down for safety, when it is very snowy and icy you have to watch out for car sized blocks of ice being hurled across the landscape. In all of these cases base load (coal, gas, nuclear) has to take over and Stroud gets 0% of it’s energy from wind. In order to really say it gets 50% on any meaningful level it should be getting near 90% in ideal conditions, and that would be a LOT of turbines.
Wind has it’s place, but will only ever be a contributor and not a major player on any meaningful level.

]]> By: Xena http://blog.stroud5050.org/2009/11/25/stroud-is-proud-to-back-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-535 Xena Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:41:01 +0000 http://blog.stroud5050.org/?p=117#comment-535 Even though "only" 1000 people responded, I still think that's a good picture of Stroud in general (even the UK in general) Yeeeeaaaah to the pro-wind folks!!! Even though “only” 1000 people responded, I still think that’s a good picture of Stroud in general (even the UK in general)
Yeeeeaaaah to the pro-wind folks!!!

]]> By: Simba http://blog.stroud5050.org/2009/11/25/stroud-is-proud-to-back-wind/comment-page-1/#comment-526 Simba Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:28:56 +0000 http://blog.stroud5050.org/?p=117#comment-526 Glad to see that most people are pro-wind. as unlikely as it is, hopefully this might help inform Stroud local council on any decisions they make with regards to wind development. *crosses fingers* Shame only 1000 managed to respond, I think the margin would have been even greater. But that's the problem I guess, the majority don't mind/like them so aren't spurned into action. It's hard to galvanise a response from apathy. Glad to see that most people are pro-wind.

as unlikely as it is, hopefully this might help inform Stroud local council on any decisions they make with regards to wind development. *crosses fingers*

Shame only 1000 managed to respond, I think the margin would have been even greater. But that’s the problem I guess, the majority don’t mind/like them so aren’t spurned into action.

It’s hard to galvanise a response from apathy.

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