School turbine plan put on hold
The Herald|Matt Fleming|October 29, 2007
An application for a 25 metre-high wind turbine at Plymstock's Coombe Dean School has been withdrawn ...The school applied for planning permission from Plymouth City Council in July but had to withdraw its application this week due to the lack of "noise information" provided.
An application for a 25 metre-high wind turbine at Plymstock's Coombe Dean School has been withdrawn ...The school applied for planning permission from Plymouth City Council in July but had to withdraw its application this week due to the lack of "noise information" provided.
An application for a 25 metre-high wind turbine at Plymstock's Coombe Dean School has been withdrawn - but school bosses say it's not the end of the ambitious project.The school applied for planning permission from Plymouth City Council in July but had to withdraw its application this week due to the lack of "noise information" provided.
Details about how much noise the turbine will cause is central to the project, following some objections to the scheme, so headmaster Pattrick Frean said independent and council experts will assess the probable noise impact in the area over the next couple of weeks.
He said: "We have withdrawn the application temporarily while we undertake the research requested, and find out what the noise impact …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]An application for a 25 metre-high wind turbine at Plymstock's Coombe Dean School has been withdrawn - but school bosses say it's not the end of the ambitious project.The school applied for planning permission from Plymouth City Council in July but had to withdraw its application this week due to the lack of "noise information" provided.
Details about how much noise the turbine will cause is central to the project, following some objections to the scheme, so headmaster Pattrick Frean said independent and council experts will assess the probable noise impact in the area over the next couple of weeks.
He said: "We have withdrawn the application temporarily while we undertake the research requested, and find out what the noise impact made by the turbine will be.
"We certainly are not abandoning the project. We just want all the relevant details to be contained in the application so it can be re-submitted over the next few weeks.
"We want to demonstrate to those concerned residents who live near the school that the noise impact will not be great - and that this project will both beneficial to the school and to the community."
It is believed the turbine will be unique in a city school. Mr Frean said it will also teach the children about alternative sources of energy - and save money too.
He said that the school has had a new English block built, which is heated through a ground source heat pump - a first for a city school. He said that staff and governors are keen to promote environmental awareness.
He said the turbine project would save 44 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year - and it will save the school up to £12,000-a-year on electricity - creating 30 per cent of the power used, which should pay for 'half a teacher'.
Mr Frean said the turbine would be in a field, between 80 and about 100 metres away from the nearest home.
Some residents in the Plymstock area have complained about both the possible noise and visual impacts which the turbine could create, but Mr Frean said the final plans would hopefully reassure people.
Upton Cross Primary School, near Liskeard, celebrated in May this year after becoming the first school in Cornwall to have a wind turbine.
mfleming@eveningherald.co.uk