Picture of the Week

A GIANT wind turbine blade which dislodged and plummeted to the ground has been replaced in Grimethorpe – 18 months after the incident occurred. No-one was hurt during the incident – which occurred in March last year at the EDF-run Park Spring Wind Farm – but mystery still surrounds why it became loose.

The three turbines were erected in 2015 and helped to generate almost nine megawatts of energy which can power up to 5,000 homes, but the damaged structure and two unharmed ones have been out of action for more than a year while investigations were carried out.

The new structure arrived in August and work finally finished this week – though the blade is seemingly still not turning.

Coun Kevin Osborne has been on the case since the incident occurred – and has been grilling EDF as to why the structure became dislodged in the first place.

He said: “As a keen advocate of green energy I’m really pleased the installation of the replacement turbine has seemingly gone so smoothly.

“Let’s hope it stays in service longer than the last one.”