Too windy for a WIND TURBINE! Villagers in Wales wake to horrific crash as £20million 300ft eco-energy generator is blown over in 50mph storm
- The 300ft turbine crashed into the ground on a Welsh mountainside after strong winds overnight on Monday
- The £20million wind turbine, which is double the height of Nelson’s Column, has snapped apart near the base
- It was one of 11 at Fforch Nest wind farm which opened in 2013 and makes enough power for 19,000 homes
- The incident has sparked calls for the remaining 10 to be inspected to make sure they are not at risk of falling
Advertisement
Villagers were woken by a 300ft wind turbine crashing down on a mountainside – after it was BLOWN OVER during storms.
The £20million turbine – double the height of Nelson’s Column – snapped apart and blades crumpled in raging wind.
Families in the nearby village of Gilfach Goch, near Bridgend, South Wales, told how it sounded like ‘thunder and lightning’.
It woke them at around 6.50am on Monday morning and echoed around the valley below.
The 11-turbine Fforch Nest wind farm opened in 2013 and makes enough power for 19,000 homes – until one was wrecked in the storm at the weekend.
Villagers are questioning how the turbine could have fallen apart during winds of around 50mph and demand officials check the status of neighbouring turbines.
The 300ft turbine crashed into the ground on a Welsh mountainside after strong winds overnight on Monday (pictured)
Families in the nearby village of Gilfach Goch, near Bridgend, South Wales, told how it sounded like ‘thunder and lightning’
The fallen turbine was one of 11 at Fforch Nest wind farm which opened in 2013 and makes enough power for 19,000 homes
Neighbour Lydia Stephens wrote: ‘A wind turbine fell over in the wind farm on my village this morning and I thought it was thunder and lighting but how the hell does a wind turbine fall over?
‘Apparently it was creaking and banging all night before it collapsed and one woman thought it was her neighbours tumble dryer.’
Fellow villagers Ricky Williams described it as ‘a bang like thunder early hours.’
Other villagers said they were worried over the safety of the turbines following the collapse.
Sharon Westgate said: ‘We need to start saying no to these surely? We don’t get any thing from them! Thank God nobody was hurt!’
Labour Councillor Aurfron Roberts called on wind farm owners to carry out further checks on turbines.
She said: ‘We have had some extreme weather here lately – some very strong winds and gales.
‘It’s a surprise because they are well maintained – there are always maintenance vehicles up there checking the turbines all through the night.
The incident has sparked calls for the remaining 10 (some pictured) to be inspected to make sure they are not at risk of falling
Councillor Aurfron Roberts called on wind farm owners to carry out further checks on turbines which surround the area
‘The whole village is surrounded by turbines, we have so many projects going on in the hills around her. I’m just glad they are up on the hillside and away from people in case something like this happens.
‘I hope this means owners will be extra vigilant and take care. It’s probably just a really unfortunate accident but it’s lucky no one was hurt.
‘I’m not surprised the sound woke people. The village is surrounded by hills so the sound revs around and you would hear it crashing.’
Owners Pennant Walters said any questions relating to the wind turbine collapse should be directed to manufactures Nordex – who make and deliver turbines around the world.
Rhondda Cynon Taff Council and Nordex have been asked for comments.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk