DERBY Telegraph readers have had their say on the news that the Spondon wind turbines are likely to become fully operational in December.
The two 180-metre structures, named Winnie and Tony, were installed last December, but, according to documents seen by the newspaper, they will not be operational until this December.
They are located in a "sensitive area", which means that when they are switched on they appear as unidentified objects on the air traffic control display at East Midlands Airport.
The document said Severn Trent hopes to install new equipment on the turbines at the sewage works in Megaloughton Lane next month.
Dave Borrington, who was "dead against" the turbines when they were first installed, said he was pleased to hear they would soon be generating electricity.
He said: "Most people in Spondon are pleased to see them working eventually after quite a lot of uncertainty. They are at least starting to do what they were supposed to do, although I still do not like the sight of them. I think people will get used to them being there."
Jackie Wood took to Facebook to say: "I would much rather look at a wind turbine than a power station or an oil rig."
Eliza Eyre said she was pleased a date had been revealed for when the turbines would begin working.
She said: "I think they are great. I hope the issue is resolved soon and they start generating power."
Philippa Jane Mawbey thought wind energy was better for the environment than alternatives such as extracting shale gas, or fracking.
She said: "I would much rather have wind turbines than fracking, which is a dirty and dangerous practice. It would damage our health and pollute our air, water and land."
The report said the turbines could only be operational in December if East Midlands Airport approved the safety of the system being installed.
The turbines are expected to produce 10,000 megawatts of electricity a year – the equivalent of supplying about 3,000 homes with power.
Moves to build the turbines began in 2007 and planning permission was granted in 2012.
But building them was not a straightforward process and lifts and motors needed to be installed before power could be sent to the National Grid.
Among local residents' main concerns was the prospect of noise, but these fears have been largely allayed during testing, although Severn Trent said it would be monitoring the situation.
A spokesman for the company said: "We expect to test Winnie and Tony – Derby's wind turbines – over the coming weeks.
"We are working very closely with East Midlands Airport to do this."
