Plans for a wind farm have been submitted to Sedgemoor District Council.
Wind farm could wipe out TV signals
Bethan Evans, Reporter
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
4:00 PM
THOUSANDS of Somerset residents could be left without TV reception if a controversial wind farm wins planning permission, according to a campaign group.
The Pilrow wind farm, proposed by Broadview Energy Limited, earmarks land next to the M5 between the villages of Rooksbridge and Mark for development, and features four wind turbines.
Plans now been submitted to Sedgemoor District Council for approval.
In opposition to the proposal, action group NoPilrow has said one turbine in the wind farm could affect TV signals to 3,500 homes - equivalent to a town half the size of Burnham.
NoPilrow spokesman, David Maund, said: “Broadview has stated the wind farm may interfere with television reception.
“Residents will only know whether their reception is affected when the wind farm becomes operational, then and only then will mitigation be considered.
“Using information provided by Broadview, our analysis suggests the power output for a 2.5MW turbine, over the last four months would have been just over 17 per cent of the maximum possible output. Would you purchase a TV if it only had a picture for 17 per cent of the time?”
Broadview says if any reception problems occur residents will be able to use an alternative transmitter.
A spokesman for Broadview said: “The assessment of effects on television reception has identified that some properties that are currently using one of the local transmitters, such as Mendip, Wenvoe or Stockland Hill, could be affected once the turbines are operational.
“In most cases, a simple retuning of the television should pick up an alternative service from the three local transmitters.
“The assessment also confirms that no homes where there is no alternative off-air service will be affected.”
The NoPilrow group will continue its campaign at an event at the Wellington Arms, Rooksbridge, on Saturday at 7.30pm. For more details visit www.nopilrow.com
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18 comments
i watch most of my tv online, i live on locking road and my broad band speed is fine. Most TV's you buy now have an ethernet port which will soon allow you to watch IPTV. Its about time people started moving to new tech for entertainment anyway. i welcome the wind turbines!
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ResRudeBoy
Friday, August 3, 2012
The only thing you would ever see in most houses would be super mario or the sims if you connect the pc to the tele...lol.
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T-Bone
Thursday, August 2, 2012
CharlieChalk. I think your last comment demonstrates what is wrong with society. "I'M alright Jack". You say you live in Weston and that speeds are good. Try living in rural Somerset and you may feel differently. I agree with the comments of Weston41
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dibbinsdale
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
CharlieChalk. Even if a PC was an appropriate substitute for television, not everyone wants or can afford a computer plus the cost of internet connection. These are times of austerity, perhaps you haven't noticed.
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dibbinsdale
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
@ weston41 - Well no, it isn't suitable, which is why you can buy adaptors to display your computer on your TV. Obviously I'm not going to buy people computers, people should earn their own things. Also, I'm in Weston and I get amazing speeds, I literally can't remember the last time I had to wait for something to buffer, even in 1080p. This is the reality so people should get used to it. It's only a matter of time before all TV broadcasting is done online, that is inevitable, just like the switch from analogue to digital was. 100% going to happen
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CharlieChalk
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
A PC monitor is not a substitute for the TV in your living room. Plus you need a decent speed to watch TV without constant buffering interruptions, best of luck getting that anywhere in Somerset. And is CharlieChalk going to pay for computers for those that can't afford them? Think before you post.
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weston41
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
iPlayer HD is not the same as broadcast HD and needs a 10M connection.
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Westonman
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
It's 2012, everyone should own a computer and have an internet connection by now.
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CharlieChalk
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
You are all mising the point Not everyone owns a PC.
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dibbinsdale
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
BBC HD, and BBC One HD can both be watched Live on the BBC iPlayer Website or Application.
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Aginoth
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
I should have added live.
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Westonman
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Where do I find BBC HD?
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Westonman
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
@ - Westonman - I'm on a Macbook, so in my case it's a Mini DVI to HDMI adaptor. You can get any mainstream TV in HD if you use the right torrents
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CharlieChalk
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
What is this £5 adaptor? Broadcast HD is not available online.
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Westonman
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Hello CharlieChalk. Many people, especially the elderly do not have computers, so your suggestion would not help those individuals.
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dibbinsdale
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
There's literally nothing you can watch on TV that you can't watch online, all it takes is buying a 5 pound adaptor and you watch it on your TV from your computer.
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CharlieChalk
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
I note that the Broadview spokesman states that some properties could be affected once the wind farm is operational. I consider the potential 3,500 homes, significant NOT some. It is also claimed that in most cases a simple retune is all that is necessary. My daughter runs a very successful tv and satellite installation company and I have been informed by her senior engineer that it will almost be certainly be necessary for the aerial to be realigned-not quite so simple as a retune. Also when the local transmitters went to digital signal, my daughter's company was inundated with requests for retuning because people,especially the elderly, were unable to do the retune themselves. More importantly no mitigation will happen until people lose their tv signal
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dibbinsdale
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Thats all fine if they want to watch BBC Wales. These turbines are just a con.
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T-Bone
Tuesday, July 31, 2012