The First Wind Turbine

The First Wind Turbine at Cheyne Court Farm

Rye’s Own July Supplement 2008

The first of the Wind Farm turbines are up Each one towers 370 feet above the ground, that’s twice the height of the existing pylons

A Fact Sheet records that the development site extends to very nearly one and a half square miles in two parishes. The concrete foundations for the turbines are well over 100 foot deep and the total amount of earth moved filled over 46,000 (forty six thousand) lorries.

First Wind Turbine at Chayne Court Farm
First Wind Turbine at Chayne Court Farm

An estimated 15,000 cubic metres of concrete was used in construction.

The were many objections to the Wind Farm being constructed on the site, some even involving ‘green’ issues.

It was pointed out that the concrete manufacturing industry is the largest source of industrial carbon dioxide on the planet. Six and a half miles of totally new roads have been built on virgin Romney Marsh soil in connection with this development. This required over 50,000 tonnes of roadstone being transported by lorry to the site. The objectors claim the developer, National Wind Power (NWP), made false and untrue statements in their Environmental Statement (non-technical summary) which was widely distributed at their promotional displays in Rye, Camber and Brookland.

Public comments on the use of this false information by NWP include:

“The use of patent untruths, lies, call them what you will, by NWP appals me. NWP are trying to manipulate public opinion. It makes me very suspicious about other facts in their literature”. Richard Hartley QC (Kentish Express 23.1.03)

County Councillor Peter Jones was even more damning in his condemnation “The thing that has galled everyone is the lies NWP have told in their environmental report. The proposed wind farm would be a huge blot on our precious Marsh Landscape and an environmental disaster for the area.

It would desecrate the wildlife of the Marsh. I am happy to support Kent County Council and other local authorities in demanding a full public inquiry.

NWP cannot be allowed to get away with the deception it has tried to use to slip through this proposal”. (Rye & Battle Observer 31.1.03).

According to the fact sheet issued by the Romney Marsh Group of Parish Councils developer National Wind Power (NWP) is a wholly owned subsidiary company of Rheinisch Westfaelische Energiegesellschaft (RWE). RWE is a German utility company with major debt problems.

The NWP (RWE) development is only made possible by major subsidy given to developers, forced on the electricity bills of UK taxpayers.

Despite these and many other objections, the Wind Farm is now a reality. It will be interesting to see just how much power it can provide for the national grid and at what cost to the consumer?

Rye’s Own July Supplement 2008