Resident pressured to turn off cheap energy turbine - 28/05/2009
A West Yorkshire resident trying to tackle price rises from energy suppliers has been pressured into turning off a wind turbine erected on his land.
Stephen Munday, of Stanford in the Vale, near Abingdon, spent around £20,000 on a 40-foot wind turbine that caters for nearly 70 per cent of his family's electricity needs, but neighbours have complained about a high-pitch whine coming from the device.
The result is a Noise Abatement Order and the threat of a £5,000 fine and an Anti-Social Behaviour Order if the turbine is not switched off.
Mr Munday said: "We were trying to cut down on our electricity bills and help the environment but have been clobbered for doing so. Everyone is encouraged to be environmentally-friendly and we wanted to do our bit."
The turbine generates enough electricity to boil 300 kettles of water every day, but it seems the Mundays will have to seek an alternative energy supply.
Onshore wind turbines cause controversy due to noise levels and their impact on the local environment.
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