It was just the wrong eyesore in the wrong place.

Asda sees it as some sort of green icon.

What tosh.

If it wants to add power to the grid, all it has to do is put some of their profits into offshore or remote wind farms and the problem is solved.

Instead it chose to try to hoodwink the WNDC and the people of Northampton over its green credentials.

Thankfully the WNDC has seen sense and rejected the application and it should be congratulated.

In due course the town may well have wind turbines but they will probably be more in keeping with the surroundings and not 400ft monstrosities.

On top of the eyesore scenario is the risk to life and limb when turbines are located close to inhabited buildings, in this case warehouse and office facilities on Brackmills.

I imagine those working on or around the Asda depot are rather relieved that a 400ft turbine is not going to be hovering over them . . . at least until it fell down!
David Griffiths,
Paget Close, Great Houghton.

Safety issue not taken seriously
Safety concerns over the Asda wind turbine were not suddenly raised at the planning meeting.

I have been raising them from the outset but WNDC planners have refused to take them seriously.

After receiving full details of the application, I formally raised the issue of safety with WNDC on April 2 along with other concerns.

However, when the first planning report came out, it stated that there was "no comment received" from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).

Apparently my letter had somehow been lost in WNDC's systems.

Given that my letter had not been properly handled, I asked to speak at the first planning meeting so that I could put my concerns directly to the planning committee.

I was told that all the speaking slots were taken and so I would not be allowed to do so.

The committee picked up on my concerns about safety relating to the public footpath and asked the planning officers for details of distances between the public footpath and the turbine.

The planning officers were unable to give adequate answers and so it was decided to defer the decision so that the planners could provide answers.

I wrote a follow-up letter on June 16, painting more graphic images of the potential dangers of this turbine.

I said that I was not aware of any other large-scale turbines sited in a similarly busy location and went on to say that I felt that "it was essential that a proper risk assessment was carried out".

My request for a risk assessment was not included in the planner's report of my letter.

I was finally granted an opportunity to make the planning committee aware of the information that I felt that the planners had tried to suppress.

Thankfully the planning committee listened and the workers at Brackmills have not been put at risk.

Perhaps the most worrying aspect of this matter has been the actions of WNDC.

I have had the impression that it has been determined to recommend approval of this turbine and has dismissed or ignored any criticism of the application.

Even as a consultee, I have had to fight tooth and nail to have my concerns put before the planning committee.

Ironically, CPRE is mindful of the issues surrounding climate change and was open to be persuaded that this turbine would be acceptable in landscape terms.
Brian Skittrall,
Campaign to Protect Rural England, Northamptonshire.

Put cycle tracks in the parks
Often the reason some cyclists or "cycling thugs" tend to use parks to travel through is because the roads are full of aggressive/irresponsible drivers of whom many have no regard for cyclists' safety.

Surely a better solution would be to provide cycling paths through the parks which clearly denominate separate routes for cyclists and pedestrians, rather than banning cyclists altogether, then both users could travel in safety.

But if we are to enforce a ban because of an unspecified serious accident involving a cyclist several years ago, then it's only right that, due to the reported incidents of dog attacks in the media, we should also enforce all dog owners to muzzle their dogs and have them on leads at all times in the parks.

Sooner or later there will be a serious attack.

Do not underestimate the damage and injury a dog can do to a child, adult or cyclist.
Gareth Thomas,
Station Road, Cogenhoe.

People treated as cash cows
I think Mr Howes misses the point if he thinks hospital parking fees are reasonable.

The hospital should treat the people who already pay for all of the NHS through their taxes fairly when they need to use the service they provide or visit sick relatives.

It's bad enough having to go to the hospital in the first place if you are ill or visiting the sick, without being mugged by costly parking fees.

If major supermarkets tried to charge their customers this amount for parking to shop, they would soon go out of business!

Hospitals should give people the care they deserve and have paid for, not treat them as cash cows to supplement their income by enforcing extreme parking fees.

Only uncaring monopolies can get away with such treatment of its customers.
John Wright,
Port Road, Northampton.

Lights in the sky
I saw the orange lights in the sky around 10.30 on Saturday evening (July 26).

At first I saw one, then another joined it, then they seemed to speed away into space, but there was no noise coming from them.

They were big and bright orange . . . quite flame-like.

Of course it was not a hot air balloon.

What sort of plonker would ride a balloon at night in the dark?

You would not see anything!

Hot air balloon flights are only done at dusk or dawn, when there is light to look at the sunrise or sunsets.
Margaret Arnold,
Upper Thrift Street, Abington, Northampton.

Heavenly voices
Can I thank Royal & Derngate for booking All Angels supported by Will Martin.

We were treated to some of the finest singing possible, the harmonies and control was superb.

To anyone who didn't go this week, make sure you do when All Angels return, as I'm sure they will.

A great night was had by all.

My visit with my wife was a birthday present from my daughter . . . just about the best present yet.
John Canning,
Main Road, Duston, Northampton.

Restrict pets
Abandoned cat numbers have risen dramatically.

Why don't councils and housing associations put restrictions on the people who rent their properties, with regard to keeping animals?

Animals should be spayed and neutered to stop all the unwanted litters.

Prevention is always better and prevents unnecessary suffering for the animals.
Maureen Cook,
Wycliffe Road, Northampton.