God's Own County

Can you see this sign or is there a wind farm in the way?
Well not quite a wind farm but yesterday there were a pair of lobbyists in the Pickering car park punting a slogan ‘yes to wind‘.

Members of green peace or not, these ‘consultants’ were pushing a commercial view point and vested interests. The focus was the proposed East Heslerton site with 10 turbines. They were operating on behalf of n-power renewables at .
Well not in my name thank you – I would say no to wind farms with my vote and if we get AV I would say no with all my other votes as well.

Most wind farm protests are local pressure groups. There is a need for a more considered and concerted approach to the issues so the debate can be properly joined. Divide and rule will deliver a hotch potch of turbines and on shore wind farms for the benefit of industry not the wider population.

Anti Wind Power View

• The extra power generated is not worth the investment and disruption to local amenity.
• 30 MW is the planned capacity but at probable levels of functionality the output will average less than 11MW and that is on a windy day.
• I do not live in this backyard and am not worried about noise, birds or the visual environment but have concern for those who do.
• Political dogma and vested interests have been joined at the hip on the issue of wind farms and there is a lack of integrity and clarity. Why else are people standing in car parks trying to convince passers by.
• Other views and reports criticise wind farms as being inefficient, unreliable, unpredictable means of generation requiring expensive stand by capacity.
• Subsidies are made available at a cost to the public purse and this ignores the relatively short life of the equipment.
• Further investment in the grid may also be necessary to cope with wind surges.

Sources

RWE npower renewables has submitted a planning application to Ryedale District Council for a wind farm approximately 12km east of Malton in the District of Ryedale press release

Wind Farm by Igor Motov on flickr 2 out of 9 without blades!

Old Dutch Wind farm

When I saw the title to this book I wondered which Guide had been chosen as the rough one. See 100 years of Girl Guides.

The Rough Guide in question claims to be the first comprehensive guide to Yorkshire, England’s largest county. Well to be comprehensive it needs to be a darn sight thicker than it appears to be. Available from amazon to order now their blurb runs ‘….It includes comprehensive coverage of the county, from the ruggedly beautiful Dales and Moors and magnificent North Sea coast, historic York to the multi-cultural cities of Leeds and Sheffield, the resurgent port of Hull to all the market towns and rural villages in between. Take your pick of great stately homes to visit, of cathedrals and churches and monastic ruins, of steam railways and seaside resorts, of world-class historical and industrial museums, of hotels and places where you can consume good Yorkshire food and ale.
Accurate maps and comprehensive practical information help you get under the skin of the region, whilst stunning photography and a full-colour introduction make this your ultimate travelling companion to Yorkshire. Whether you’re on holiday, on business, visiting family and friends or just passing through – even if you’ve lived in Yorkshire all your life – The Rough Guide to Yorkshire will ensure that you don’t miss a thing.’

I think the blurb totally misses the point. Yorkshire gets under your skin you are not expected to ‘get under the regions skin’ in your lifetime.