Shadows upset inmates
Discussion
Why not scrap the turbine and bring back the tread mill?
08 April 2005 07:05
A £1m wind turbine next to high-security Whitemoor Prison is to be switched off at certain times of the year because its shadows upset inmates – including terrorists and some of Britain's most notorious killers.
Peter Skoulding, whose company Snowmountain Investments built the turbine, has held talks with Whitemoor officials following complaints from prisoners.
The 450 inmates at the prison, near March, include Barry George, who killed TV presenter Jill Dando and M25 road-rage killer Kenneth Noye.
Two years ago, prison officials objected to plans to build gravel sidings on the site of a former railway yard near the jail, claiming shunting would keep prisoners awake.
“The shadow flicker upsets some of the prisoners in the library,” said Mr Skoulding.
“We always knew it was a possibility and we have a bit for a computer being made in Germany that will ensure the turbine doesn't operate on some days.”
He said there were times of the year– in part of April and May and in October – when the early morning sun was in such a position that it caused the 42m rotating blades to flicker over the prison.
It happens when the sun is low in the sky and shines on a building from behind a turbine rotor. This can cause the shadow of the turbine blades to be cast on to the building, which appears to flick on and off as the turbine rotates.
Mr Skoulding's consultant, Geoff Taylor, led “very neighbourly” talks with prison chiefs on the issue.
It was a possibility both parties had always been aware of, and it was something considered when the turbine was first proposed.
“It was forecast by our computer operated data – and there are two periods of the year when shadow flicker could have a security aspect on the prison,” he said.
Mr Taylor said reports that the turbine was being shut down for four hours each day “is only about 2pc accurate”.
It depends on whether the sun is shining, and the time of day, and the date “and then, and only then, will we shut it down”.
However, John Stoneham, local organiser for the anti-turbine Save Our Skylines group, said he had always warned it would have an adverse effect on the prison.
“This was our main objection,” he said. “The turbine gives off sweeping shadows and is one reason why it should not have been built next to homes, factories or a prison.”
He said the turbine rotated 6750 times every 90 minutes and its could be “both irritating and very stressful”.
>>> Edited by c c on Friday 8th April 08:21
>>> Edited by c c on Friday 8th April 08:21
08 April 2005 07:05
A £1m wind turbine next to high-security Whitemoor Prison is to be switched off at certain times of the year because its shadows upset inmates – including terrorists and some of Britain's most notorious killers.
Peter Skoulding, whose company Snowmountain Investments built the turbine, has held talks with Whitemoor officials following complaints from prisoners.
The 450 inmates at the prison, near March, include Barry George, who killed TV presenter Jill Dando and M25 road-rage killer Kenneth Noye.
Two years ago, prison officials objected to plans to build gravel sidings on the site of a former railway yard near the jail, claiming shunting would keep prisoners awake.
“The shadow flicker upsets some of the prisoners in the library,” said Mr Skoulding.
“We always knew it was a possibility and we have a bit for a computer being made in Germany that will ensure the turbine doesn't operate on some days.”
He said there were times of the year– in part of April and May and in October – when the early morning sun was in such a position that it caused the 42m rotating blades to flicker over the prison.
It happens when the sun is low in the sky and shines on a building from behind a turbine rotor. This can cause the shadow of the turbine blades to be cast on to the building, which appears to flick on and off as the turbine rotates.
Mr Skoulding's consultant, Geoff Taylor, led “very neighbourly” talks with prison chiefs on the issue.
It was a possibility both parties had always been aware of, and it was something considered when the turbine was first proposed.
“It was forecast by our computer operated data – and there are two periods of the year when shadow flicker could have a security aspect on the prison,” he said.
Mr Taylor said reports that the turbine was being shut down for four hours each day “is only about 2pc accurate”.
It depends on whether the sun is shining, and the time of day, and the date “and then, and only then, will we shut it down”.
However, John Stoneham, local organiser for the anti-turbine Save Our Skylines group, said he had always warned it would have an adverse effect on the prison.
“This was our main objection,” he said. “The turbine gives off sweeping shadows and is one reason why it should not have been built next to homes, factories or a prison.”
He said the turbine rotated 6750 times every 90 minutes and its could be “both irritating and very stressful”.
>>> Edited by c c on Friday 8th April 08:21
>>> Edited by c c on Friday 8th April 08:21
These guys are in prison to be punished, so tough titty slags! But never mind some interfereing liberalistic lentilmuncher will stand up for these scums "human" rights............ Put them all to work on a chain gang breaking rocks for the roads that they should be building BY HAND!!!!!!
So they couldn't pull a blind for a few minutes each month?
It's a prison!eunosroadster said:
MilnerR said:
Thought this was going to be a Hank Marvin thread.... Something to do with new tory plans to make prison a real punishment
Ha ha ha....so did I!
So it wasn't just me then, and I thought it was a return to corporal punishment!
I learned all the Shadows songs from my dad when I was learning the guitar.
I was only 10 though.
There was some muppet on the radio the other day (could've been R2). He was an ex-con who'd done time for murdering his landlady. He was on the radio claiming that preventing prionsers from voting in the general election was illegal and infringed on their civil liberties.
The other bloke in the studio, representing the case for not allowing prioners to vote interjected with "The woman you murdered can't vote now can she?"
Bosh!
The other bloke in the studio, representing the case for not allowing prioners to vote interjected with "The woman you murdered can't vote now can she?"
Bosh!
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