Concerns raised at turbine trial run
POLICE are hailing a trial run of a controversial wind turbine transport route through the Swansea Valley a success.
Loads of up to 159ft long are due to be driven from Swansea Docks through Pontardawe to the Mynydd-y-Betws site, near Cwmgors, later this year.
-
The plans have caused a storm of protest from people living along the route who have raised fears about congestion when the convoys are on the move and questioned what would happen to ambulances and fire engines that needed to get to emergency calls.
Residents have set up a group called Communities Acting Together to show their concern.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Wednesday, May 22 2013
One campaigner, Ron Williams, said: "Some of those vehicles are 60 metres long and with the turbines on board will weigh around 150 tonnes. We don't think the roads will stand up to the strain, especially Gelligron hill, on the way up from Pontardawe, which has had problems in the past."
Before the route is finalised the hauliers will have to submit a traffic management plan to South Wales Police.
Police, councillors, developers and residents were interested spectators on Wednesday as a trial run of the route was undertaken.
Afterwards a spokesman for South Wales Police said: "The trial run passed without incident but due to the size of the convoy and trailer there were some tailbacks during the journey."
Rhos resident William Lewis said: "It will slow traffic up a lot. They should consider trying a night-time journey to avoid traffic congestion and all its problems."
A spokesman for Irish electricity firm ESB, which is behind the 15 turbine development, was unavailable for comment.
Preparatory work has already been carried out on the route to modify at least two roundabouts in Pontardawe and a set of traffic lights on the town's crossroads, as well as lopping back some trees to allow the safe passage of the mammoth vehicles.
Comments
by siarad2
Friday, July 06 2012, 9:16PM
“But it's not the same width.
I recall coming upon a large load jammed under a bridge blocking the road entirely & causing damage.
What they'd clearly forgotten was the road dipped under the bridge but a long load 'bridges' the dip thus there's less headroom.
No they couldn't let the tyres down as the load was so heavy they were solid tyres.
This happens on turns too which is why I mention the lack of true width.
Then again blame it on the computer we know their evil intentions.
Our big missiles in the RAF were 90 feet long & the transporters had rear wheel steering to negotiate standard roads which were small & windy in Norfolk.
Those guys went around right angled bends faster than I did in my car!”
by Philosoraptor
Friday, July 06 2012, 6:50PM
“Toptexter. They turn to go past the Barclays cash machine and avoid the lights, it would probably add another 30 seconds because there will be a police presence to stop traffic for emergency services if they needed to use the other roads so there would be minimal delay.”
by Dai_Chotomy
Friday, July 06 2012, 6:49PM
“http://tinyurl.com/d4o8ypj”
by toptexter
Friday, July 06 2012, 6:28PM
“i don't see much of a difference with the wind turbine blade on it.
all the ladder tied onto the back is illustrating the overall length as the lorry with the blade attached will have the same overhang length, but the ladder does not illustrate overhang height. all they had to was put on weights to make up the 8 tons
i'm only referring to the delay at the lights. i'm making no referall at all to passing points elsewhere. i would not like to be the paramedic who is put into a position, and finding out someone could have been saved if they had just got there 40 seconds sooner.
unless someone is willing to take full responsibility if the worst came to the worst and state this.
where is the passing point at the cross when the lorry is turning left? there isn't one, is there?
a passing pont is only available after the lorry has completed the turn, and the turn is not completed until the tail end is clear and coming back into the left lane which won't be for another few seconds further up into james st.
there are risks...and unecessary risks. and sometimes negligent risks”
by Philosoraptor
Friday, July 06 2012, 6:28PM
“Look at the roads in the photo... THEY ARE FALLING APART!
You see, those who don't go near Swansea can what I was saying all along. The roads are brand new and in better shape than the rest of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. This is just a case of Not In My Back Yard. The roads are very capable of handling the loads that will go through there, what roads cannot handle are temperature changes and weathering effects. I still expect some here to down mark me though because it goes against their agenda.”
by GretaCarbo
Friday, July 06 2012, 6:04PM
“Gwyddno
That would be stupid.
What they should do is this:-
Make an inflatable that the same size and shape as a wind turbine.
Buy blocks of lead that equal the weight of a wind turbine.
Load the blocks onto the trailer in a way that replicates the actual mass distribution of a turbine.
Place the inflatable on top of the lead blocks.
Do the test run.”
by Gwyddno
Friday, July 06 2012, 5:38PM
“Dai_Chotomy
Yes and if the test is successful, they can take the wind turbine back to Swansea Docks and then do it for real.”
by Dai_Chotomy
Friday, July 06 2012, 5:22PM
“My point entirely Kaiser”
by Kaiser_Macsen
Friday, July 06 2012, 4:57PM
“Dai_Chotomy
As stated in a post below, a real test would be to put a wind turbine on the loader.”
by Dai_Chotomy
Friday, July 06 2012, 3:31PM
“Is a low-loader with a ladder on the back a true test?”