Heartfelt tributes to 'beautiful' Jody (From Stroud News and Journal)

Heartfelt tributes to 'beautiful' Jody

MORE THAN 100 concerned residents attended a heated public meeting at Miserden Village Hall on Monday to hear how plans to erect wind turbines in the area would affect them.

Renewable utility company Green Amps, run by Nick Brown, plan to install seventeen pairs of turbines across the Gloucestershire countryside, with Wayside Farm in Miserden earmarked as a potential site for two of the 56 metre-high turbines.

Mr Brown who admitted he would make around £12,000 a year from each turbine believes the turbines, will help in the fight against climate change and to meet the county's targets for renewable energy.

But near-by residents are against turbines on this site, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), because of concerns about the noise and visual impact they will create.

Speaking at the meeting landscape architect Mike Davies said the zone of visual impact surrounding the turbines would stretch from Bisley in the south, Whiteshill in the southwest, Painswick and the Cotswold Way in the west, Birdlip and Shab Hill in the north and Miserden in the Northeast.

He added: "A desk-based assessment has predicted the turbines would affect numerous footpaths, roads and houses including nationally important and sensitive routes such as the Cotswold Way. In most views, the turbines will nearly always be seen breaking the horizon, which is to be avoided in this character area."

Several members of public questioned Mr Brown, and demanded to know why he had chosen an AONB.

He said: "In our opinion the turbines go everywhere."

In an informal vote, only three people at the meeting said they were in favour of the proposals.

A planning application for the turbines will be submitted in the new year. An action group SOS (Save Our Scenery) High Wolds Against Wind Turbines has already been set up.