The Power of Ignoring Facts ; Mack Flicks Off Flicker Con Campaigner

Part of Honda's award-winning advertising campaign on restarting car production after their recession shutdown at the South Marston plant.

One of the main concerns of those opposing the Honda wind turbine plan has finally been exposed as non-applicable to a campaigner on the radio.

As Swindon Centric pointed out after a bit of very light digging, the possibility of 'shadow flicker' by the turbines on the east side of town has been eliminated by Ecotricity.

Now, BBC Wiltshire presenter, Graham Mack informed a campaigner on his Breakfast Show of this fact, but they didn't really seem particularly informed. Listen to it here, skip to 19 minutes 45 to listen to the interview.

Swindon Centric Says ; A big tip of the hat to Graham Mack. As campaigners keep saying, there's strong feeling about this proposal, there should be equally strong feeling about getting the facts right about it.

And that's a fact, a Mack Fact!

Honda - The Power of Nightmares & The Foolhardy Turbine Fear Factor

The issue of Honda being allowed to install turbines at it's South Marston plant seems to become a cloak with which to wear late at night and stalk the dreams of the local populace, if the words of some are to be taken at face value.

For the leader of Swindon Borough Council to state (and others jumped onto the runaway carriage too), or allow himself to be interviewed into a corner and come out with the statement that the Council does not have an economic plan in the case that Honda leave Swindon is either a slippery piece of political sabre-rattling or a schoolboy error.

One side shows it could be a clever piece of politicking, as the planning committee meeting decision on the turbines has been rescheduled after a record 496 people attended the meeting, the decision has yet to be taken.

However, most of the ticks seem to be in the 'error' column.

The recent Coate Water decision seems to show that the Planning Committee has 'gone rogue' (as the recommendations from officers weren't taken into account), therefore any political opinion proffered seems to be pointless in the final decision of the committee.

Then there was the news/PR blitz that happened in the days after, first that Honda's vehicles are the UK's most reliable.

Then the massive broadside that Honda will be building two new models, both in Swindon.

And the last deadly blast from the dead-wrong cannon, that Honda made, despite the impact of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami (and 88% less in it's first quarter profits), £248 million, it raised it's full-year earnings forecast by 35%.

Swindon Centric Says ; So, short of Honda repainting the roof of it's plant with the slogan, 'Honda Loves Swindon' (though the award-winning ad campaign, shown above, extolling the virtues of the day-to-day routine when the plant reopened was near-enough), there seems little prospect of the manufacturer leaving the town any time soon. At the other end of this, saying stupid things, or scaring people is never a trait that will win people's respect, or support.

Honda - The Power of Dreams (And Turbines)

The decision on whether to build wind turbines at the Honda plant will be made at tonight's Planning Committee meeting.

There seem to be two main objections to the turbines, firstly the size with each being 393 feet, the second is 'shadow flicker' (not that's not a website-in-waiting that Flicker have in the event of a natural disaster!), which refers to the shadows thrown by the turbines when the sun sits behind them at a specific angle. This link explains the effect better than I can.

What none of the campaigners have said (are they aware of it?), is that Ecotricity, the company behind the plan will switch off the turbines in the event it occurs (as it says in the link).

Swindon Centric Says ; The decision is due this evening and Swindon Centric hopes it goes for Honda to be granted approval. As one person on the Swindon Advertiser comments section on this story has said "I fail to understand such opposition, Swindon biggest building (B&Q warehouse) accross the road of the proposed Windturbines site has not raised so many concerns despite the loss of an orchard, natural habitat, green field and increased HGV traffic (noise, pollution).", NIMBYism seems to have gone part-time!

... This just in...

The Council have decided to defer the decision after too many people turned up at the meeting for them to be able to fit them in the room. It would appear everything about this project is on a big scale. Details from the Swindon Advertiser here.