Last week, Spear’s launched our Save Britain’s Historic Landscape Campaign to highlight the threat posed by unproductive windfarms to Britain’s ancient countryside. We are not opposed to the idea of renewable energy or wind farms — especially if they are offshore — despite the fact that there are very serious scientific doubts about their effectiveness or viability.
What we do believe is that if wind farms are going to be built across the country, it is critical that the sites chosen are the right ones, and that those benefiting are not simply landowners and developers who care little or nothing for the damage they are doing to our landscape.
To find out more about the campaign, download our manifesto, or read the Spear’s editorial that kick-started the debate.
As a starting point, we are gathering our readers’ opinions on the government’s policy on windfarms, and their ideas on how Britain can implement a green energy policy that preserves one of our most valuable assets: our beautiful and historic green spaces.
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If you would like to add your views to the discussion, please email william.cash@spearswms.com, or post a comment at the bottom of this page.
Readers’ comments:
‘I am agreeably surprised that the City should view these as a negative contribution and I hope you are aware that the Highlands of Scotland, where I live, are in particular in danger of being ‘industrialised’ by grossly over-scale turbines on a small-scale landscape renowned throughout the World as one of quintessential beauty and the source of our major industry, tourism.
Currently many areas of the eastern and northern Highlands have existing or planned wind farms and so far (unless ‘they’ cover the entire surface area of the North) there is not the slightest chance that these, by themselves, will meet the renewable energy targets in practice without backup from the existing power stations. Even if the entire surface was covered, wind is fickle and existing power stations would still be required.
Renewable energy is fine in theory and admirable in a political sense,if you happen to be a politician, but are not the long-term answer, which may ultimately turn out to be a safer nuclear industry. In the meantime and possibly for up to 25 years, the Highlands and parts of the UK will have to suffer an un-necessary downgrading of landscape that will benefit only the power companies. It is after all we as taxpayers who will subsidise this current trend through our energy bills and government subsidies whilst loved and precious landscapes, all small-scale, are visually marred.
There seems reason to fear that tourism to wild land, especially in upland areas of the UK will suffer as will in all probability other scenic landforms and villages in England. It is the sheer scale of the individual turbines that are so obtrusive, not to mention the infrastructure needed to build them and service them. All in all this is a bad time for any wild or beautiful land and support is needed from the population at large to change Government policy whilst there is still time to do so. It seems to me that the only renewable resource that is plentiful from windfarms is the amount of cash generated for the landowners and power companies, especially the latter.’
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The Earl of Cromartie
‘At long last people are starting to realise that the government are actually destroying the land they wish to protect. Good Luck with your campaign.’
Lillabeth
‘”As Der Spiegel has stated: ‘Germany’s CO2 emissions haven’t been reduced by even a single gram despite all their wind turbines. In fact Germany has had to build many more coal and gas fired plants.’ ”
Through this quote you imply that this is the fault of the wind turbine technology. You are misleading your readers and should take the time to read the Der Spiegel article.
The story is actually very positive about the benefits of wind power! Below is what is actually said on the matter of CO2 emissions:
“…the European Union’s own climate change policies, touted as the most progressive in the world, are to blame. The EU-wide emissions trading system determines the total amount of CO2 that can be emitted by power companies and industries. And this amount doesn’t change — no matter how many wind turbines are erected”
Misleading people is surely not a good way to start your campaign?’
Piers Guy
