Cowley May Build Wind Turbines

Council leaders are in advanced talks with experts about putting 125m-tall generators on land near the BMW plant in Cowley and at Sandford Brake.

Experts said there was enough room on each site to fit two turbines.

The scheme would be entirely funded by Partnerships for Renewals (PfR), which is part of the Carbon Trust. It would cost more than £8m and generate enough electricity to power 5,000 homes a year.

The organisation would build the turbines, rent the land off the council and sell back power at a reduced rate. The rest would go to the national grid.

Each mast would be 80m high, with the rotors measuring 90m in diameter. In total, the wind turbines would generate as much as three megawatts of power a year.

Last night, the scheme was broadly welcomed by people who could be living in the shadow of a giant turbine.

Colin Whittaker, 65, of Sparrow Way, Greater Leys, commented: “I’m quite happy for them to give it a go here. I have got no concerns at all.”

Angela Simms, also of Sparrow Way, added her piece: “Turbines have got to be better than all the pylons out there at the moment.

“It’s going to be generating sustainable energy which is good too.”

But Carol Shearman, 49, of Hobby Court, Greater Leys, commented: “My concern is there could be noise issues.”

The city council was involved in secret talks last year and since then, every piece of land the authority owns has been examined to find the most suitable sites. More detailed tests will now be carried out.

www.pfr.co.uk