Swimming pool wind turbine plan (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Swimming pool wind turbine plan

2:04pm Thursday 21st June 2007 in

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A SWIMMING pool is set to be powered by alternative energy after proposals for a wind turbine were given the go ahead.

The proposed turbine will be installed at Edisford Swimming Pool, Edisford Road, Clitheroe, after Ribble Valley Council's planning committee voted in favour of the scheme.

Officials will now assess the cost effectiveness of the project and said it was unclear what the exact cost of the project will be.

Under the plans, the pole supporting the turbine will be six metres tall, with each blade measuring five metres.

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The blades are described as helical - meaning they are twisted - and have a width of 3.1metres.

It will be situated on land near to the grass football pitches next to the pool's changing rooms.

Rod Pearce, Ribble Valley Council's principal surveyor, said: "We will now conduct a four-week feasibility study into how effective the proposed wind turbine will be, then report back to committee.

"Ribble Valley Borough Council is committed to protecting and enhancing the environmental quality of the area."

The original application was initially deferred but following its approval, local councillors said they saw no real problems with the project.

Coun Alan Yearing, Liberal Democrat councillor for Edisford and Low Moor, said very few residents had voiced concerns about the scheme.

He said: "In terms of the use of energy-saving technology, I am in favour of it.

"Obviously, there may be some concern from residents but I have only had one person contact me regarding this issue. I think there is just a concern about whether it is going to be intrusive to the surrounding people.

"I sometimes feel they are more pleasing to the eye than pylons that criss-cross the country."

This latest project follows similar ones in Ribble Valley which have seen wind turbines go up in an effort to cut costs.

One of these was a small turbine on the side of a house in Longridge while back in March Bowland Wild Boar Park in Chipping got the go-ahead to erect a £30,000 wind turbine.

Officials are not ruling out looking in to other alternatives such as solar panels.