Make the most of turbines (From Gazette Series)

Make the most of turbines

SIR - I was very disappointed to read in the Gazette that a "vociferous minority" had prevented any additional wind turbines being installed at Nympsfield. Do the rest of us get any say in this? Aren't we in favour of using renewable energy? Isn't it better than continuing to plunder our gas and oil reserves and contribute to global warming?

Surely living near a wind turbine is better than an oil/gas or nuclear power station? My parents used to have a wind turbine on test in their back garden. The neighbours didn't mind a bit. On the contrary they came round for a closer look and to find out more about it. Tourists used to stop on their way to the coast and ask to come in and see it.

When we first moved to this area we went to admire our local wind turbine. We were disappointed to find it was fenced off and we couldn't even find a nameplate to show the power rating or who the manufacturer was.

In other countries the wind turbines are a tourist attraction. They have sign boards up explaining about renewable energy sources, with information about the turbines themselves.

I think it is time to speak up in favour of renewable energy. Or are we prepared to let these vociferous minorities ruin our environment in our name?

Caroline Pande, Water Lane, Wotton-under-Edge