RESIDENTS LIVING close to Dundee’s Michelin factory will be invited to air their views on the firm’s towering turbines this week.

As part of her dissertation, St Andrews University third year student Jayne Taylor has undertaken a study on public perceptions of the wind turbines at the Michelin factory.

With renewable energy becoming an increasingly topical issue, Jayne hopes her study will help her to discover whether public attitudes are more positive to turbines in an urban environment than a rural setting.

Jayne explained, “I feel this is a very topical issue as negative public attitudes are increasingly seen as a constraint to the use of renewable energy.

“Renewable energy is to play a key role in government policy on climate change with the Scottish Government aiming to generate 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020.

“Since the turbines at Michelin were constructed one year ago, most people in Dundee have had some form of opinion on them.”

As part of her research, the student will be conducting two questionnaires between tomorrow and Friday.

Arbroath-based Jayne will be visiting the Overgate shopping centre as well as dishing out a door-to-door questionnaire in the housing areas surrounding the turbines.

Jayne added, “I’d like to encourage the citizens of Dundee to participate in my study.

“A high response rate is essential for my work and I believe that by making people aware of the research, they would be more willing to participate.

“The help of anyone who takes part with this would be greatly appreciated.”