Discuss Planet or Landscape?

morlandroger · 14-04-2008, 21:53

We try to be as green as possible (ok I promise to sell my gas guzzler soon) but here in West Cumbria we seem to be surrounded by wind farms. National Park will never let them build, but on the edges? What do you think?

Roger

**Dabhand16** · 14-04-2008, 22:05

Blot on the landscape.

**Angela** · 14-04-2008, 22:07

I love them, not only for their purpose but I do think they have a certain elegance and grace about them....but then I don't have to look at them all day

**Dabhand16** · 14-04-2008, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angela

I love them, not only for their purpose but I do think they have a certain elegance and grace about them....but then I don't have to look at them all day

Or listen to them.

morlandroger · 14-04-2008, 22:17

There have been several campaigns in certain areas which have stopped them. The Howgills in SE Cumbria is one. Not up here though. Not a NIMBY but some areas lend themselves to huge towers and some do not.
Roger

morlandroger · 14-04-2008, 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angela

I love them, not only for their purpose but I do think they have a certain elegance and grace about them....but then I don't have to look at them all day

I am not saying I dislike them. They do have a certain style but the problem is where to put them. On parts of the coast here (economically depressed W Cumbria) they are fine (unless you live next to one)

(now I am a NIMBY

)

muscle750 · 14-04-2008, 22:25

I got me own wind farm if i eat beans!!

Ali · 14-04-2008, 22:36

I find them quite mesmerising (the one nr J11 on the M4 can be a bit distracting as well!) and in some ways quite beautiful in their movement, That said we have none near us - maybe I'd feel differently about them if I was to live close by.

It's tough call between planet/landscape. As much as I like their grace and admire the power they generate, they can be a 'blot' - although the North Cornish coast would look odd without them now!

AQ · 14-04-2008, 22:55

I would rather some of these being built near me than a coal, gas or nuclear power station.

morlandroger · 14-04-2008, 23:01

Nuclear. MMMM Largest employer these parts is Sellafield.

fionaB · 14-04-2008, 23:03

they win handsdown compared to huge pylons and a power station!

simpbow · 14-04-2008, 23:04

Blot on the landscape, there trying to do it here to but instead of on the land they want to put these things in the sea to ruin the view of are coastline between Donegal in the South & the Giants Causeway in the North. Its not them who has to sit & look at them.

Whipspeed · 16-04-2008, 12:40

Love them, I could sit and watch them all day. Our local ones are surprisingly quiet as well, even close up you can't really hear them. Only problem is apparently tv reception if they are in the path of the signal.

**Markulous** · 16-04-2008, 13:25

Love them! Think they add some real interest to areas of the countryside

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dabhand16

Or listen to them.

Listen to what, precisely?

I visited a windfarm (the first in Wales, as it happens) having heard all the negative comments about how dreadful they looked, even worse to listen to, horrendous vibrations and unsightly infrastructure. Wind speed was about 30-40 mph and I went right up to the base (as I could only hear a faint swishing) and put my ear to the massive column; still couldn't hear much and felt even less in the way of vibrations. Site had a gravelled track which you hardly noticed and there wasn't a single trace of an overhead pylon, wire, etc

Larne · 16-04-2008, 13:52

I used to live in Essex. One of the reasons my photography declined was the near impossibility of taking a landscape photograph that didn't have electricity pylons stepping across it. Wind turbines are no different, they still draw the eye and while they can be more obvious than pylons there are a lot less of them and they at least look a bit more elegant.

I imagine the countryside lobby was up in arms when pylons were first rolled out, and even today people don't generally want one in their back yard, but we have come to accept them now as a normal part of life. Eventually it will be the same with wind turbines, they will become familiar and accepted by default.

A couple of hundred years ago I expect people were complaining about the wind-driven mills and pumps that were cropping up all over the place.

14-04-2008, 21:53	#1 (permalink)
morlandroger Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lake District, North West England Posts: 482	Discuss Planet or Landscape? We try to be as green as possible (ok I promise to sell my gas guzzler soon) but here in West Cumbria we seem to be surrounded by wind farms. National Park will never let them build, but on the edges? What do you think? Roger

14-04-2008, 22:05	#2 (permalink)
Dabhand16 Pixalo Crew Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dunstable Bedfordshire UK Posts: 8,759	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? Blot on the landscape.

14-04-2008, 22:07	#3 (permalink)
Angela Pixalo Crew Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Wimbledon Posts: 5,765	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? I love them, not only for their purpose but I do think they have a certain elegance and grace about them....but then I don't have to look at them all day

14-04-2008, 22:17	#5 (permalink)
morlandroger Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lake District, North West England Posts: 482	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? There have been several campaigns in certain areas which have stopped them. The Howgills in SE Cumbria is one. Not up here though. Not a NIMBY but some areas lend themselves to huge towers and some do not. Roger

14-04-2008, 22:25	#7 (permalink)
muscle750 Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: outskirts cheltenham Posts: 353	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? I got me own wind farm if i eat beans!!

14-04-2008, 22:36	#8 (permalink)
Ali Forum Regular Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mid Sussex Posts: 955	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? I find them quite mesmerising (the one nr J11 on the M4 can be a bit distracting as well!) and in some ways quite beautiful in their movement, That said we have none near us - maybe I'd feel differently about them if I was to live close by. It's tough call between planet/landscape. As much as I like their grace and admire the power they generate, they can be a 'blot' - although the North Cornish coast would look odd without them now! Last edited by Ali : 14-04-2008 at 23:11. Reason: spelling!

14-04-2008, 22:55	#9 (permalink)
AQ Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 942	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? I would rather some of these being built near me than a coal, gas or nuclear power station.

14-04-2008, 23:01	#10 (permalink)
morlandroger Been here a while Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lake District, North West England Posts: 482	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? Nuclear. MMMM Largest employer these parts is Sellafield.

14-04-2008, 23:03	#11 (permalink)
fionaB Loves the place Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Scotland Posts: 5,344	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? they win handsdown compared to huge pylons and a power station!

14-04-2008, 23:04	#12 (permalink)
simpbow Feet under the table Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.Ireland Posts: 2,405	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? Blot on the landscape, there trying to do it here to but instead of on the land they want to put these things in the sea to ruin the view of are coastline between Donegal in the South & the Giants Causeway in the North. Its not them who has to sit & look at them.

16-04-2008, 12:40	#13 (permalink)
Whipspeed Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Northamptonshire Posts: 1,282	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? Love them, I could sit and watch them all day. Our local ones are surprisingly quiet as well, even close up you can't really hear them. Only problem is apparently tv reception if they are in the path of the signal.

16-04-2008, 13:52	#15 (permalink)
Larne Been here a while Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warrington, Cheshire, UK Posts: 427	Re: Discuss Planet or Landscape? I used to live in Essex. One of the reasons my photography declined was the near impossibility of taking a landscape photograph that didn't have electricity pylons stepping across it. Wind turbines are no different, they still draw the eye and while they can be more obvious than pylons there are a lot less of them and they at least look a bit more elegant. I imagine the countryside lobby was up in arms when pylons were first rolled out, and even today people don't generally want one in their back yard, but we have come to accept them now as a normal part of life. Eventually it will be the same with wind turbines, they will become familiar and accepted by default. A couple of hundred years ago I expect people were complaining about the wind-driven mills and pumps that were cropping up all over the place.