Wind farm turbines take to road

Propeller blades for a wind farm being built on the Kent/Sussex border are to be transported by road for the second time this year.

Police said 27 abnormally long loads were escorted from Chatham to Romney Marsh in June, and this second phase would see another 48 loads being moved.

Two movements of three loads have been planned later.

Convoys will continue until Thursday, in the mornings. Officers said that avoided the busiest time on the roads.

Motorcycle escorts

Police said the turbines were being moved at up to three loads at one time from Chatham Dockyard.

They will travel along the A289, then join the M2 to junction 3, continue down Bluebell Hill and join the M20 to junction 10.

They will then travel along the A2070 and A259 to the Romney Marsh site.

Six Kent Police motorcyclists and one car will escort each movement.

Each vehicle is 47m (154 ft) long and each journey will take between two and three hours, with further loads set to be moved in September.

The £50m Npower Renewables wind farm, at Walland Marsh, was approved in 2005.

A public inquiry was held from October 2004 until January 2005 after widespread opposition from councils in Kent and East Sussex.