Would people please mind signing this Petition? The Vallee des Singes is one of the biggest attractions in the Vienne with 200,000 visitors per year, each spending at least €10 each in the local rural economy - an income of €2m per year. Alstom have been given the go -ahead by the Prefect of the Vienne to build a windfarm on the edges of the Monkey Park, and the director of the Park is clear he will close the park and move to another part of France. This is because the infrasound from the turbines has a very negative effect healthwise on these primates (research by scientists from US, Canada, Australia and Germany). For many reasons, not just the Monkey Park, the Public Enquiry Commissioner in his report said the windfarm should NOT be built in this area. The Prefect has over-ruled his decision and given the green light. There are other issues, not least the fact that some conseillers municipals will have turbines on their land - this is common knowledge and has been reported in the media. The turbines are also in the flightpath of the Grey Cranes that migrate over the area every year (we counted about 3000 in the winter, directly over the Vallee des Singes).
The effect on the local very rural economy ( gites, filling stations, boulangeries, local shops, other small attractions), should the monkey park leave, will be devastating. Signatures on this Petition to the Prefect to ask her to change her mind will help. Legal actions are also being taken, but it is unlikely they will come to Court before construction begins. Thank you .
http://www.change.org/fr/p%C3%A9titions/madame-la-pr%C3%A9f%C3%A8te-de-la-vienne-non-au-parc-%C3%A9olien-%C3%A0-1-6-km-de-la-vall%C3%A9e-des-singes
I don't really want to upset people more than necessary but at the start of this campaign it was supposedly all about protecting wildlife and the environment, hence "Association de défense et de protection de l'environnement de Blanzay" and much was made by people with no previous active interest in wildlife about the threats to "birds and bats", all this in a region that has been systematically destroyed over the last 30 years and especially so in the last 10 until now when it is virtually a "green desert".
Needless to say all this leaves me feeling just a tad cynical but as I have mentioned elsewhere I look forward to the day when this little matter of the wind-farm has been put to bed and all these people can direct their energies to the real problems facing this little corner of France.
Chris
So you are not interested on the impact the departure will have on the local economy then Chris? ......
The Director of LVS is my neighbor and we live just 600 metres from the nearest of these proposed turbines which may raise an eyebrow or two.
Chris
Interestingly perhaps the Director of LVS is my neighbor and we will be just 600 metres from the nearest of these turbines.......
Neutral on this issue as it's nothing to do with protection of the environment or wildlife but only concerned with property values in my opinion.
Chris
Thank you. We are now up to 800 signatures and hoping for lots more. Unbelieveable that the commissioner gave the thumbs down to the developmenty after the Public Enquiry but the Prefect over-ruled him!
This outrageous, the environmental and economic impact will be devastating. Have signed and shared on Facebook. I do hope the the decision is overturned.