SPONDON is "coming around" to liking two 130-metre-tall wind turbines that have started producing energy for the first time, according to some of its residents.
The structures, which will produce 10,000 megawatt hours of energy when fully-operational, have proved to be a controversial talking point in the village since they were installed in December.
One of residents' main concerns was the prospect of them making a noise but that has not been the case in testing, although Severn Trent, which has installed the turbines, said they would be monitoring it.
Willowcroft Road resident Fred Whaley said he did not have a problem with the turbine.
The 69-year-old said: "I have heard people having concerns about noise but I've not heard a thing.
"I'm not bothered by the turbines and they are obviously there to produce energy which is good."
Sally Giakalis crrct said she was shocked to see them appear at first but has grown to like them.
The West Road resident, who owns Spondon Bakery with her husband, Vagelis, said: "They can be seen from all over Spondon but anything that brings down energy prices is a good thing.
"I was very shocked to see them at first though.
"As a business our costs are horrendous. Ten years ago we were paying £34 a month for gas and electricity, now it's £150.
"I'm absolutely fine with them now though. We've also not heard them make any noise."
The 49-year-old said there were bigger issues in the village. She said: "Parking and traffic is far more concerning. It's a nightmare."
Chaddesden resident Vivian Stevenson drives past the Megaloughton structures to go to work at Asda Spondon.
The 57-year-old said: "I've not heard any noise myself and we've not had complaints in the store.
"When I first saw them appear, I thought they were huge.
"But I've really got used to them being there."
Spondon ward councillor Evonne Williams said she had noticed opinion had changed in the village.
She said: "From the outset residents have been very 50/50 about them but that is now 60/40. There are some people who still hate them and their opinions will not change but plenty of other people are in favour.
"A lot of people have said how great they think the engineering is.
"I have only had one resident complaining since they started turning around."
A spokeswoman for Severn Trent said that a quarter of the company's energy came from renewable sources.
She said: "The wind turbines now add to this and will hopefully see us generating a third of our energy from renewable sources by 2015.
"As well as reducing our carbon footprint, by generating more renewable energy, we help to protect our customers from future energy price rises."
