WHEN I first heard about the proposed wind farm at Gartree I knew little about wind turbines and decided to visit the wind farm at Burton Wold in Northamptonshire to see what they are like.
As I approached I listened carefully for any noise and found that I had to get quite close to distinguish any noise from the background, particularly overhead jet aircraft. When I was close enough to touch I was a little surprised how quiet they are
and the noise was not unpleasant to me. The size of the turbines was a little intimidating when close, but I quickly got use to them. As a photographer I took a few pictures and was pleased at some of the resultant images.
Over the past few months there has been considerable local discussion and correspondence, predominately by those strongly opposed, with Lubenham Parish Council making an early decision to oppose the turbines. I have decided to make the wind farms a photographic project and have so far visited three further wind farms. I have to say I don't know what all the fuss is about. I have grown to like the turbines and prefer the larger ones. I hardly hear any noise and have to make a deliberate decision to listen. Even in the centre of a block of 20 turbines the noise is neither unpleasant nor significant to me.
I intend visit several more wind farms and exhibit a selection of these photographs during September as part of the Open Studios and the Lubenham Scarecrow weekend. The title will be something like, The Beauty of Wind Turbines, or The Fear of the New.
For those who are seriously concerned about global warming and accept that the question is by how much the world will warm, rather than will it? I recommend the book 6 Degrees by Mark Lynas. For those who say there are better alternatives to wind turbines I reply that it is not a question of or but and as we need every option. We all need to do everything we can and it looks like three degrees warming will occur regardless of what we try to do. Three degrees may not be a big problem in Harborough but it will in many parts of the world, whose population will have to move or die.
I am meeting and hearing of more and more people who are in favour and I hope the Gartree turbines are built.
Jonathan Clark
Rushes Lane, Lubenham.
For full version of letter, plus images, please go to our website www.harboroughmail.co.uk
