Bryncaws wind farm up-date

[SteveJ]

Hi Norris,
Good point re the use of the word 'farms' linked with wind turbines; it also annoys me when people refer to car thieves as joy riders.

A big fear I guess we pilots have in the UK about wind turbines, as well as the obvious massive rotating knives, is the company's possible policy to block paragliding activities near these monstrosities for fear of litigation by anyone who survives an encounter with them.
Every company-run wind turbine exhibition I've attended has never heard of our fabulous sport.
A sad irony I came across recently, which highlights the UK energy situation: When flying at 7Sisters the other day I noticed a small group of council officials standing behind TO. I landed and introduced myself. It turns out that they were considering a wind turbine application. On leaving the site later I passed through 7Sisters village to see a local council-run establishment lit up like a Christmas tree, even the outside lights when on, yet it was only 3pm.
Passing though the village at midday the following day the outside lights were still on.

[Norris]

Here is another two pennorth; since this was about wind farms in the first place, I was in Spain recently and we flew a site called Caudet, which featured a massive ridge with a line of over a hundred wind turbines along it. Take off was just below and in front of one of the turbines. We were all a little nervous about flying in such close proximity to the turbines but our guide Nick reassured us. He said the local boys flew here all the time and there had been no incidents, and that at least one pilot had flown between the rotating blades. I asked if the turbines had lessened flying on the site but Nick said No, on the contrary, the wind farm had opened up the site by providing a road to the top, previously it had been a three hour walk up,(scorpions, poisonous snakes and spiders etc), but now many more people flew the site. He also said that wind farms had opened up many other flying sites in Spain. I am not writing this to try to sway opinion towards wind turbines, but to put forward a point of view that I had not known about previously. Personally I hate the darn things and cannot see why they should blot our skylines when we have such a convenient potential power supply in the tidal range that we enjoy all around our shoreline. I also think that the very name "wind farm" is misleading and is designed to put people in mind of a peaceful country scene. They are not farms, they are industrialised areas, many of which still look like construction sites.

[GerryL]

jared just to clarify
the police can only arrest an individual for a CRIMINAL OFFENCE not a CIVIL OFFENCE?
ta mate and when are we out again?

[Norris]

Jared, thanks very much for correcting me, I have not had much to do with the Police except as a victim for a long time now so I appreciate your updating me. I have to admit I was shocked to realise how much power the police now have to arrest anyone at the drop of a hat. We appear to have gone from a Nanny state to a Police state, yet we are still over run with crime. Doesn't make sense to me. Still, thank you for the post.

[jared1199]

Not that what I'm about to say has anything to do with flying but Norris - I think you'll find that every single criminal offence is now arrestable depedning on a 'necessity test' as per the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005.
(1)
A constable may arrest without a warrant? .
(a)
anyone who is about to commit an offence; .
(b)
anyone who is in the act of committing an offence; .
(c)
anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be about to commit an offence; .
(d)
anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be committing an offence. .
(2)
If a constable has reasonable grounds for suspecting that an offence has been committed, he may arrest without a warrant anyone whom he has reasonable grounds to suspect of being guilty of it. .
(3)
If an offence has been committed, a constable may arrest without a warrant? .
(a)
anyone who is guilty of the offence; .
(b)
anyone whom he has reasonable grounds for suspecting to be guilty of it. .
(4)
But the power of summary arrest conferred by subsection (1), (2) or (3) is exercisable only if the constable has reasonable grounds for believing that for any of the reasons mentioned in subsection (5) it is necessary to arrest the person in question. .
(5)
The reasons are? .
(a)
to enable the name of the person in question to be ascertained (in the case where the constable does not know, and cannot readily ascertain, the person?s name, or has reasonable grounds for doubting whether a name given by the person as his name is his real name); .
(b)
correspondingly as regards the person?s address; .
(c)
to prevent the person in question? .
(i)
causing physical injury to himself or any other person; .
(ii)
suffering physical injury; .
(iii)
causing loss of or damage to property; .
(iv)
committing an offence against public decency (subject to subsection (6)); or .
(v)
causing an unlawful obstruction of the highway; .
(d)
to protect a child or other vulnerable person from the person in question; .
(e)
to allow the prompt and effective investigation of the offence or of the conduct of the person in question; .
(f)
to prevent any prosecution for the offence from being hindered by the disappearance of the person in question.


Just thought you'd like to know! 

[Norris]

Andy H could you clarify please; I have searched the document you quoted and nowhere can I find where it says that allowing someone under 16 yrs of age to be in control of a glider is a criminal offence. It may be a civil offence which I believe is slightly different, I do not know. Neither can I find any reference to the above offence being an arrestable one, not all criminal offences are arrestable, neither are civil ones. Regards, Norris.

[John Nash (Nasher)]

Great News and thanks for all your hard work Steve.


Chris, wind was ESE for about 2 minutres then all over the place - no flying!

[Chris Dusgate]

Great news Steve, thanks for keeping us informed. Can I presume you did not fly today at BC? Sky looked quite nice at mid-day

Chris

[AndyH]

Excellent news......we just need to make sure that we all stick to the site rules and abide by the CAA laws....after all it is a criminal offence for anyone under the age of 16 to be in the command of a glider, and THIS IS an arrestable offence(Please refer to this link http://www.caa.co.uk/docs/33/CAP393.pdf and pay special attention to Section 1 Part 4 Point 37 on page 14).

This has been placed here to remind all doting fathers with children under the age of 16 that they are breaking the law by allowing their CHILDREN to fly, and I would also like to remind members that paragliding is a dangerous past-time and training a person to fly should be left to suitably qualified personnel.

Before anyone asks, the answer is YES, as there really is someone in our club who is stupid enough to carry out such a negligent act.

AndyH   Chairman SWWSC.

[Stevie G]

good on ya SteveJ for keeping us informed and updating mate

[Steve Watkins]

Good news Steve! Hope the farmer was ok about it? and doesn't hold a grudge against paragliders?

After all this would have been good revenue for him.

Thanks Steve for your hard work

[SteveJ]

Went up to Bryncaws earlier and called in to see the farmer, John Stephens, about an up-date on the proposed wind farm by RES Ltd.
Good news. The wind farm company's application has been turned down by the local council. So free-flying here is secure for the near-future at least......on this week's edition of the TV programme Country file, Ed Milliband (energy secretary) plans to put through legislation vetoing opposition to any future wind farm applications !!!