VILLAGERS have raised concerns about plans to build a windfarm "near their homes".
Some residents of Turves, near Whittlesey, claim the five 100m high turbines proposed at land north of Burnthouse Farm are too close to their properties and will disturb the calm of their peaceful neighbourhood.
They are also worried that during w
inter falling shards of ice from the blades of the turbines, which are about 400 metres away from houses, could injure residents.
But bosses of the scheme allayed fears by saying a state-of-the-art ice detection device, which shuts off when it senses ice, had been installed.
They also said the windfarm was smaller than others nearby, and would be vital for meeting green energy needs – powering 5,600 homes.
But Tracy Hough (33), from Burnt House Road, said she was still not convinced by the plans, which have been submitted to Fenland District Council.
She said: “Turves is a small village, it is a quiet place.
“We have only days left to object to the turbines that, at this distance, can have health effects, safety effects, effects on our quality of life, with heavy plant using our roads and noise once the things are built.
“There is plenty of open space for turbines away from villages.
“You will look and think, ‘oh that’s a long way away’, and the village has been made to look so small, but in reality, it is a field away.
“And these things can throw 20kgs of ice in cold condition up to a distance of 550m.”
But director of Fivestone Nick Sutton, said 18 months of work had been carried out to ensure the windfarm ticked all the right boxes.
He also said residents had been consulted, an extensive noise survey had been done and the heights of the turbines reduced by 25m.
He said: “We held a public forum at Doddington Village Hall at the weekend. Out of the people we saw, 60 per cent of those questioned were in favour.
“You can’t please everyone, but there is a serious need for renewable energy.
“We are told the lights will go off in the next seven years if we can’t produce our own power.
“We know this is a good area for a small scheme, but we have been trying to tick every single box.”
He said there was still time for residents to make their voices heard, with the application set to be decided upon by July 29 at the earliest.
