Thursday 9 December 2010

Plans for Hackney wind turbine scrapped

Plans for a wind turbine to be built on Hackney Marshes have been abandoned.

According to a spokesperson from Hackney Council, the funding from the potential energy companies involved had been withdrawn.

Mayor of Hackney Jules Pipe said: "We're disappointed that the current economic situation has resulted in the banks making it more difficult for electricity generation companies to borrow the money they need to build such turbines.

"We will continue to explore options for generation green energy, and we hope to be able to revisit the idea of a turbine in the future."

A public consultation held between October and December of 2009 had found 87% approval for the Hackney Marshes scheme. The town hall had also backed the plans as the turbine would not only have helped reduce CO2 emissions, but also powered street lights.

However, there was opposition to the plans, particularly from the football community. Johnnie Walker, chairman of Hackney and Leyton Football League, spoke of the impact on the dozens of Sunday League teams the turbine would have: "We have already lost tons of space - we have lost pitches left, right and centre. There is major disruption around the Marshes."

Anna Hughes of the Green Party admitted that there were unanswered questions surrounding the turbine

"Investing in renewable now will eventually generate an economic advantage later. But as good as it would be to have a turbine, we have to consider which would have been the most cost-effective."