| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:renewable energy in Brentford | |
| Posted by: | Andrew Dakers | |
| Date/Time: | 07/07/09 23:04:00 |
| I will try and reply at greater length another time, but here's a bit of background... I was unable to be at plannning committee that night but entirely supported the original deferral of the decision. Neither Tesco (in their application - they didnt send a representative to committee) nor the Council officer that spoke at the previous meeting could give councillors information on the full lifetime benefit of installing these wind turbines, if any, once repair/ construction emmissions were factored in. With the information being provided we could not therefore make an informed, responsible decision. As such I entirely support the decision that other councillors took in my absence as I understand Tesco were not forthcoming with more information, despite the deferral. Wind turbines usually yield little environmental benefit at this height in an urban context. Spending the same money on solar PV would probably yield greater environmental benefit, but that is not for the planning committee to decide. I share the concern that wind turbines could make people (myself included) feel shopping at Tesco is low impact (and contribute to our cognitive dissonance) when in fact the environmental impacts of food consumption - and associated waste - is very significant. Again, not a matter for planning committee, which sits in a quasi-judicial capacity. As another forum contributor acknowledged, Tesco have put significant solar installations on a few stores. This is what they - and other supermarkets - should be installing in Osterley and elsewhere, as well as replicating initiatives such as the one at Waitrose West Ealing for cyclists. Andrew |