A public exhibition detailing plans for four wind turbines near Arborfield, Shinfield and Earley prompted a “mixed bag” of comments. 

Representatives from Partner-ship for Renewables (PfR) say plans for turbines at Rushy Mead could be submitted to Wokingham Borough Council as early as September.

Dozens of people who believe they are likely to be affected by the development flocked to the CResCent Resource Centre in Warbler Drive, Lower Earley, last Tuesday, and Arborfield Village Hall in Eversley Road last Wednesday to talk to representatives.

Tom Brinicombe, PfR’s spokesman said: “We have had a lot of positive and negative comments – but all have been constructive.”

PfR says the turbines will generate up to 22 gigawatts of energy each year – equivalent to the amount of energy used by more than 4,800 homes annually.

Each turbine will have a combined height of both the tower and blade of 130-metres and will require in the region of 2.5 to three megawatts of power to work efficiently.

Mr Brinicombe said: “The turbines are similar in size to the one at Green Park [in Reading] but a little bigger.

“People are concerned about the personal impacts it could have on them and others spoke about subjective issues.

“All we can do is show people the designs to show we are doing it right and the environmental and technical aspects which ensure this is being done professionally. 

“We have also had a lot of messages of support and a lot of positive comments.

“It has been a mixed bag but

it is good people have been coming to find out information so they can draw their own conclusions.”

He added: “We could be in a position to submit an application in early or late September, but it is more likely to be October.”

Initial studies suggested up to six turbines could be installed but this idea was scrapped in August 2008 after aviation stakeholders raised concerns.

And the proposed five became four earlier this year after detailed wind modelling work suggested one of the turbines was likely to experience turbulence from the others and was deemed less effective.

The plans were announced by The University of Reading and PfR – established by the Carbon Trust to help public sector bodies access economic and environment benefits from renewable energy development – in 2008.

Some of those sceptical about the project labelled the exhibition disappointing.

Jan Heard, who fronts campaign group Householders Against Rushy Mead (HARM), believes photographs used during the display portrayed a false impression of the site.

“There was little information which was new; concerns about proximity to homes, noise, by-ways and equestrian businesses persist,” she said.

“Few of the pictures on show were from residential perspectives, and as one of the nearest householders I was looking forward to seeing a visualisation from Carters Hill.

“We were only offered a Google Earth view which we were told uses a camera sited quite high.

“Councils in Scotland and the West Country are very experienced with issues surrounding wind machines and are adopting higher standards for visualisations.

“HARM will be pressing Wokingham council to insist when the planning application is received new standards published by the Highland Council be followed, as they are much clearer and without room for misinterpretation.”

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