I’d like a turbine on my land as well...

I WRTIE further further to your article (The Big Issue, ‘Could Park Provide Power We Need?’. Newcastle councillor Graham Hutton put the idea forward for Apedale and other hilly areas during a discussion on future management of Staffordshire County Council’s countryside estate.

He said: “Where we’ve got height in our parks, like Apedale, for example, let’s get a wind farm up there.”

In 2012 two wind turbines were erected by Apedale Visitor Centre in Blackbank Road, Alsagers Bank, a quarter of a mile from my home.

The man in charge of this operation told me he would love to put a wind turbine on my land, which is nearly eight acres and 1,000ft above sea level, much higher than Apedale.

I sent a planning application in and it was refused. One neighbour said they had seen bats in the area and the turbine would cause noise.

I took part on a bat walk at Apedale and was amazed to find out bats are not blind and have sonar as well. I have never seen any dead bats or birds anywhere near these wind turbines on Blackbank.

I could not believe Apedale put two turbines up with bats there, while my application for one was refused as a neighbour saw a bat.

I took two petitions around, one asking if anyone had seen a bat. The second asking if anyone objected to me having a wind turbine.

Every neighbour I asked signed both petitions, which were handed in to the planning meeting.

I still believe the way forward is green and would still like to have a wind turbine of my own on my land.

SUSAN FAGAN

ALSAGERS BANK