Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Anti-wind farm protestors fly blimp over site by Jo Hall


Tuesday, 12.10pm - ANTI-wind farm group BLOT - Belvoir Locals Oppose Turbines - are flying a bright orange blimp over the site where developers plan to build 10 huge wind turbines, north of Grantham.

The balloon will be flown at 410ft - the height of the highest point of the turbines, which could be built at Thackson's Well, near Long Bennington.

This lunchtime, it was flying at only half that height but is expected to reach the full 410ft later today.

It will be visible from 20 miles and will also be flown when members of Melton Borough Council, who are being consulted on the plans, visit the site on Friday, weather permitting.

BLOT member Pete Caswell, from Normanton, said: "The blimp is great idea to show people the height of the proposed turbines and the impact on the visual character to the area.

"But it will not show the planning committee the cumulative effect of having 10 turbines that height. It's almost impossible to imagine the dominance this development will have on so many historic buildings in the area."

The Dowager Duchess of Rutland has pledged her support to BLOT and is expected to visit the site from where the blimp is being flown today.

Have you seen the blimp? Click here to e-mail your pictures or video.

Keep checking back here for more updates and pictures throughout the day.

Click here to read The Big Windfarm Debate.

Windfarm campaigners in other parts of England have employed a blimp in their campaigns.

Click here to read more about the Shropshire blimp.

Click here to read more about blimps near Berwick in Northumberland.

Click here to read about blimps in Barmoor in Scotland.

Click here to read about the blimp used at Haverhill in Suffolk.

Click here to read about the Pontefract blimp.

Click here to read about the blimp at Podington in Northamptonshire.

Click here to read about the blimp at Linton in Cambridgeshire.

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