A COMMUNITY is celebrating after a wind turbine years in the planning is finally producing energy.

Members of the Oakenshaw Community Association (OCA) have been working since 2009 to get the turbine up and running.

Now that completion is in sight, John Spencer, chair of OCA, said he is pleased the community teamwork has paid off.

“The turbine is now undergoing final testing and starting this year, the community will have an annual income which means we can continue to further improve the village.” He said.

“We held a celebration event on Saturday morning next to the wind turbine which was great. It was so cold but a lot of people came out and seemed to really enjoy it.”

Along with Oakenshaw residents, MP Pat Glass, County Councillor Olwyn Gunn, Greater Willington’s Town Mayor, Councillor Fraser Tinsley and Ian Bloomfield of Durham County Council turned out to join in the celebrations.

The 70m high wind turbine, located on farm land on the outskirts of Oakenshaw, near Crook, will bring an annual income to the village for the next twenty years.

Mr Spencer added: “In 2009 a study indicated a wind turbine project could be feasible on two sites and that we could make money from it, but the risks would be considerable and the time involved in taking it forward would be formidable, the challenge was accepted.

“Energy is now being produced and Oakenshaw Community Association will receive, in 2015, the first of 20 annual donations which will certainly enable the wishes of the community to be undertaken on a sustainable basis over that time frame.”

The income will be used to fund a bus shelter, some new road signs and picnic tables in the village recreation area as well as going towards improving the footpath around the nature reserve and adding some benches.

“All the way throughout the development process we have held public meetings to make sure that people are happy having the turbine in the village." Mr Spencer said.

“We have also carried out a survey to understand how people want the money to be spent, and environmental improvements were very high on 20 wooden planters will also be installed throughout the village, which will be stocked with flowers throughout the year.

“A lot of the work was done by the community association and the land owner, who project managed it, I’m very pleased with the outcome.”