Should Colchester have a Wind Turbine?

Following an article in The Evening Gazette on 19th November 2001 which stated that Chris Arnold, Colchester council's portfolio holder for environment and transport was interested in Colchester obtaining a wind turbine, we have devoted this page to debating the issue.

Below you will find a table detailing the pros and cons, a forum for you to state your views and a poll to give your opinion on the issue.

If you would like to find out more about the issue by visiting a wind turbine let us know. If enough people are interested we will arrange to visit the Ecotech Environment Centre in Swaffham which will include a trip to the viewing platform at the top of the wind turbine.

For	Against
1. Wind turbines reduce the need for other more harmful ways of producing energy	1. Can be an eyesore in the wrong place
The major advantage of wind turbines is that the more energy that can be produced by them the less has to be produced by other less desirable means. That is to say the need for fossil fuel and nuclear power stations will reduce. These power stations produce a range of pollutants and tend to look extremely unattractive.	Obviously the siting of such a structure is crucial. We do not want to spoil areas of beauty our countryside or towns and villages. However it has been proposed that they would be sited in industrial areas. We must also remember that the original windmills were once regarded as eyesores and so probably was Jumbo the water tower that the people of Colchester are trying frantically to save and has become a major part of our town heritage.
2. Produces enough energy for 5000 homes	2. Claims that they do not produce as much energy as claimed
If a wind turbine can produce this much energy it is a very significant contribution to our energy supplies.	This is a technical question and we would need to ensure that the power generated was sufficient to justify a turbine in Colchester.
3. Possibility of it being a tourist attraction	3. Can be noisy
Colchester is always trying to raise its tourist profile. If a wind turbine is incorporated as part of an environmental park or with a viewing platform like the one at the Ecotech Centre in Swaffham it could be a very useful addition to our tourist attractions.	The easy way to check this out is to visit a turbine and see for yourself. We may arrange a visit to a wind turbine see below.
	4. Can affect TV reception
	Again this is a technical question that would need further investigation.
	5. Other forms of alternative energy are better
	It has been claimed that solar or tide energy systems would be better. However we are told that either the technology and/or the costs do not make this as viable as wind power at the current time. And anyway why can't all these forms of energy be used. Just because you have a wind turbine does not mean you can't use and develop other energy sources.
	6. Harmful to Wildlife
	This problem would need to be investigated. However, why should a wind turbine be any more harmful than power lines that scar our countryside at the moment.