Air ambulance withdraws objection to QEH turbine
EAST Anglian Air Ambulance has withdrawn opposition to a proposed wind turbine at Lynn's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, it was revealed this week.
Green energy firm Ecotricity said the only objection currently being raised was an MoD fear that radar equipment at RAF Marham would be hampered by the 80-metre-high turbine.
Ecotricity is now appealing against West Norfolk Council's development control board's refusal in April of planning permission for the scheme. Reasons given included the objections and members' concerns about safety, noise and visual impact.
Managing director Dale Vince criticised district councils in general as being "not up to the job" of deciding such issues.
He said: "Two thirds of all wind projects are refused by district councils at the planning stage and two thirds of all appeals are upheld by the Government. A lot of bad decisions get overturned eventually."
Plans for a single turbine to be built in the staff car park of the hospital are supported by the QEH NHS Trust, particularly on financial grounds. Up to 26,000 a year could be saved on electricity costs.
The hospital's director of performance and informatics, Barbara Cummings, said: "We are proud of our achievements in reducing our carbon footprint and every penny we save is a penny more for patient care."
Mr Vince was confident that the MoD objection could be resolved and said if the project went ahead, it would be the first initiative of its kind in the public sector.
The type of turbine proposed had been around since 2001 and was already helping commercial organisations including Sainsbury's, Ford, The Pru, Co-op Bank, Michelin and B&Q.
"The public sector should be leading the way. The QEH is blazing a trail which we believe will very soon become a well-trodden path," he predicted.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
