Contrary to the suggestion made in a recent letter, accidents concerning wind turbines are far from infrequent.

There are several reports where blades have come off, turbines collapsed or set on fire.

Specifically, there have been two turbine accidents in Denmark this year which have prompted the Danish Climate Minister, Connie Hedegaard, to demand an investigation.

One accident led to the blades being thrown up to 1km.

Peter Wenzel Kruse, spokesperson for the turbine company involved, Vestas, stated "they're not infallible, but we are learning from our mistakes".

Imagine a "mistake" of this magnitude in an urban area such as Brackmills.

Campaigners from Great Houghton are not against renewable energy projects.

A more suitable turbine that did not contravene local planning policies has recently been erected in Great Houghton.

No objection was made.

Not all renewable energy projects are appropriate.

Fortunately, the councillors who voted to refuse Asda's application believe this also. For once, common sense has prevailed.
Antony Oxley,
Atterbury Way, Great Houghton.

Put safety before green agenda
We read with some disappointment the opinion in Wednesday's Chronicle & Echo about, in the words of the writer, "the massive wind turbine" proposed by Asda.

We feel that, unfortunately, most of the points raised at the meeting have somehow been missed, and the comments on the health and safety issues seem rather odd.

Is the writer saying that if the Chronicle & Echo decided to put such a structure next to its building, it would have no qualms or fears about the safety of their staff?

We always believed that it was an employer's responsibility to care for their staff, not to subject them to any unnecessary danger.

The opinion writer quite rightly points out that there were "discordant voices from communities living close, but, it has to be said, hardly in the backyard of Brackmills itself".

Again, the point has been totally missed . . . the safety concerns were raised on behalf of the employees who work at Brackmills, the many people who use the local footpaths and the children who use the nursery at the site.

These are issues that were raised with Asda from the first meeting and have been passed onto to WNDC planners by various parties, including the CPRE.

However, they seem to have always been pushed to one side in favour of the overriding "green agenda".

We agree wholeheartedly that Asda should be applauded for its environmental approach; however this should never be put before the health and safety of others, or to the detriment of local planning policies that are in place for good reason.
Neil Bull,
on behalf of Great Houghton Parish Council.

Ironic opposition
It seems quite ironic to me that Brian Binley has seen fit to join the opposition to the proposed wind turbine at Brackmills, that was abandoned on the grounds of 'elf and safety for the people working in the area.

Usually, Brian is denouncing such protection for workers as unnecessary regulation on hard-pressed business leaders, such as himself.

Wind turbines have a very good record in that they do not collapse unexpectedly and, indeed, they have been built at the Ford Dagenham plant and in the North Sea.
David Brede,
Blossom Way, Little Billing, Northampton.

Band HQ will be in wrong place
It is appreciated by everyone concerned that, because of the redevelopment of Daventry, the brass band has to be relocated to new facilities. Nobody wishes to see this group homeless or disbanded, as they are an asset to the town.

This particular proposal (for land at the corner of Ashby Road and Daneholme Avenue), though, is ill-conceived. It is probably the right building but totally in the wrong place.

Who in their right minds proposes a band hall in the middle of an established residential area?

This proposal provides a solution for one group's problems with little consideration being given to existing residents' needs.

Noise from the new facility, combined with the increased traffic movement and general disturbance in the area, seems to have been completely ignored by this proposal.

Traffic in this location is already a particular problem, with the road being used by both cars and HGVs as a shortcut between Ashby Road and where Welton Road joins the Northern Way.

I am already in discussion with Northamptonshire County Highways to try and get exclusion signs put up to prevent the movement of HGVs in the area before a serious accident takes place.

Inadequate provision of parking facilities, leading to additional on-road parking and subsequent road safety problems, are just some of the issues here.

The proposed location is very close to the popular children's play area.

On-road parking is already quite substantial and, with the requirement to park further cars, there is a real risk to the safety of young people, in particular when crossing between cars to get to the play facilities.

With on-road parking spaces being unavailable in Daneholme Avenue, people are likely to park in Ashby Road, thereby bringing a whole series of problems of its own.

I believe that there are much better locations for this facility than the one proposed here and Daventry District Council should urgently review the plans.
Councillor Chris Long,
Abbey North Ward, Daventry District Council.

No beds, so op is cancelled
My wife had an appointment at Northampton General Hospital and was told to be at the hospital for 07.30, which she was.

At 12.00 she rang me to pick her up because her operation was cancelled. The doctor had told her that, despite equipment being hired in, there were no beds!

I had a similar experience with a cartilage operation; they ran out of theatre time.

I understand emergencies happen but isn't that an A&E problem?

You book time off work, go nil by mouth from the time stated and still they get it wrong.

I wrote recently about parking and disagree with your correspondent, Mr Howes. It isn't a fair price.

NHS free at the point of delivery? I think not.

The NHS has a zero tolerance policy. It's about time service users did as well.
Andy McGuinness,
Pembroke Road, Northampton.

An NGH spokesman said: We were extremely busy on the day in question, and the number of emergency admissions we have does impact on beds available in other parts of the hospital. We do our best to avoid inconveniencing patients for planned procedures, but unfortunately rescheduling an operation is sometimes unavoidable. We do apologise to Mr and Mrs McGuinness, and will re-book the appointment as soon as possible.

We believe our car parking rates are fair and, at £2.20 for three hours, are in line with those set by the local authority for town centre parking. One reason why our rates are not lower, or for shorter periods than three hours, is that drivers then tend to park here to go shopping or visit other town centre locations, causing further congestion on the NGH site.

Critical time for blind people
Many people in this area supported the RNIB campaign to allow people with severe sight loss to claim the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.

Now the Government is in the process of making its decision about whether or not to make these changes.

It could go either way: the changes can be made and there is strong support from DWP Ministers but, as we all know, the Government is under significant financial pressures.

While they make their decision, we need to ensure that they are reminded just how strongly people in this area feel about this issue.

It is vital that we cannot allow them to delay making a decision, nor can we let them think that we will just go away.

We must go on fighting until they make the right decision, until they put right this injustice.

I am also writing to my MP – Brian Binley – to ask for his support for the many people in this constituency who could benefit from this change.
The present situation is unfair and unacceptable.

If any of your readers would like more information about the campaign they can contact the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) on 0207 391 2096.
Norman Hull,
Crawford Avenue, Duston, Northampton.

Gutter-snipes off the streets
Just to clarify a few points under the Getting tough on yobs headline, Texts, Chron, July 29: First of all, I did not state that conscription into the armed services was a punishment.

They are disciplined organisations and have the skills and abilities to instil discipline and train in a variety of skills which would stand these individuals in good stead for civilian life thereafter, hopefully, turning them into good citizens.

Next, personally, I would most certainly not whinge should any of them be unfortunate enough to pay the ultimate price.

As for serving alongside such individuals, surely it is people who have morality, self-respect and consideration for others, along with many other skills, that these yobs need to be alongside, to learn the error of their ways.

In reply to MJP of Bugbrooke, and his reference to conscription, I did not state it was the answer, as there is no simple answer.

It may play a large part in it, as it would take the gutter-snipes off the streets for most of the two-year period of service.
W S Dean,
Cameron Close, Duston, Northampton.