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Wind turbine to power Sheffield surgery
A CONTROVERSIAL wind turbine has been given the go-ahead to power a Sheffield health centre.
Planning councillors granted the application for the turbine at Birley Moor by five votes to two with one abstention – despite opposition from residents including a petition containing more than 100 signatures.
Birley Health Centre in Birley Lane will generate electricity for the building from the 15 metre-high structure – saving four tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – with any spare energy being pumped back to the National Grid.
Concerns were raised at yesterday's meeting about the "flicker" effect of the turbine's blades on sunny afternoons and the impact on the landscape, while residents were also worried about noise.
But city centre, south and east planning board chairman Coun John Hesketh proposed screening off the turbine with new, mature trees which was made a condition of the development before it was passed.
Planning officers also found the nearest home, at 70 metres from the site, would be too far way to suffer noise disturbance.
Coun Tim Rippon said: "On balance we have to take into consideration the greater good. I think we have to realise we need to be doing something about climate change."
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light snow
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
