Wind farm protesters horrified by noise during turbine visit
Protesters against a five-turbine wind farm near their village crammed into a mini-bus to visit Somerset's only towering turbine at Chewton Mendip.
Energy company Ecotricity organised the trip to try to persuade the group members that their plans for a wind farm would not have a big impact on their lives.
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However, when the group fighting Ecotricity's Black Ditch wind farm visited the 120m tall turbine on the Mendip Hills they were far from impressed.
The green energy company organised the hour-long visit in response to concerns about the noise, size and shadow flicker among other issues raised against the five, 140m tall planned turbines.
Protester Julie Trott said: "My concerns centre on how the wind farm will harm our way of life.
"My first impression is, there are no houses near the turbine, unlike the proposed Huntspill sites which have many houses surrounding them.
"As I got off the mini-bus, I was horrified by the noise the turbine was making.
"There was a high-pitched buzzing noise, which we were told was coming from the generator and a loud whooshing noise, which was made as the turbine blades passed the stem.
"The amount of noise surprised and alarmed me, as we were told that turbines generate little noise.
"We're not against green energy but the proposed location is not the best place."
Nicky Suckmith, 58, of Old Pawlett Road, who has lived in West Huntspill for around 33 years, said: "This turbine is not even as big as the ones proposed for Black Ditch and it's making such a noise and a hiss – imagine five and closer to homes.
"This visit has not changed my mind about the plans."
In response, Ecotricity spokesman Mike Cheshire and Victoria Allen tried to field questions.
Mr Cheshire said: "We offered to bring people up here to show them the turbine up close, the sound it makes and provide other information.
"We are behind the rest of Europe when it comes to turbines and renewable energy, and we believe in the project."
He also compared the two developments saying the two-year-old Mendip mast produced enough electricity last year for more than 1,600 homes, while the Black Ditch farm will power 7,800 typical homes.
He added that in the 800 days the turbine has been working, it has only been out of action due to wind speeds and technical problems for eight days.
During the trip one protester, Richard Sucksmith, surprised Ecotricity's representatives by saying he knew one of the residents near the Chewton Mendip turbine, Mr Cook.
He invited the group to detour the mini-bus to his nearby home to discuss the matter, but Ms Allen said the mini-bus was on timed hire and they could not detour.
The group were upset and angry, and the company ended saying the protesters were more than happy to visit him in their own time.
Mr Sucksmith said: "Mr Cook is happy for us to visit him on the way back and he will tell us the truth about living near the turbine.
"He tells me it's noisy, especially at night, but the company won't take a little time for us to visit him."
Another protester said: "It's like Ecotricity have something to hide."
7 Comments
by dcjuk
Saturday, January 21 2012, 5:19PM
“Why all the Furore about wind turbines and yet no one bats an eyelid about the two Nuclear Reactors to be built at Hinkley Point, there have been too many catastrophic accidents with Nuclear power generation for any sane person to regard it as safe.
I have just been to the wind turbine at Chewton Mendip and found it makes no more noise than a distant aeroplane”
by jon jon, woolavington
Wednesday, September 22 2010, 2:54PM
“I wonder what powers a Health officer would have over a government sponsored experiment?
I must be a nimby now,never been one before!
There are various You tube videos and publications about the facts Against these turbines,why would people bother to air these views if there are no facts that they do make noises, and are eyesores?
I don`t want to live in a industrial area to provide the (greens) with a feeling of well being to think that green electricity is sometimes being generated (only when the wind blows) and i will have to look at these things for the next 30 years on their behalf?
Go on greens ,have them outside your door,ask for them personally!
I am ordering my hard hat and ear deafenders and growing a 500 foot high hedge soon!”
by John Moore, Chudleigh, Devon.
Saturday, September 11 2010, 6:57PM
“I have just received the daily news from National Wind Watch (US) with an item on noise. It is now found that the noise problem increases greatly on turbines generating more that 1 Mega watt. The enthusiasts for these things are convinced that they generate more than they actually do. They need a 30 mph wind to generate their rated power; below that the output is on an exponential curve which means that at say 15 mph the output in minimal-- about a few kw.”
by William, Turbine Alley
Saturday, September 11 2010, 4:28PM
“JackM.
Standing under a turbine is where you are least likely to hear turbine noise, which is why the wind industry (and people like you) always suggest it.
Subjective opinions are of no value to anyone, which is why developers are forced to model noise outputs (albeit badly and to their benefit, as often as not and using the widely criticised ETSU-R-97 standard).
This standard was formulated by wind industry acousticians; I quote from it:
"... a framework for the measurement of wind farm noise and gives indicative noise levels thought to offer a reasonable degree of protection to wind farm neighbours, without placing unreasonable restrictions on wind farm development or adding unduly to the costs and administration burdens on wind farm developers and local authorities. (Summary S1).
It was formulated when 30-40 metre turbines were the norm and has never been revised, as was originally recommended.
Nor has it ever taken into consideration the findings of clinicians and epidemiologists in the last 10 years on the effects of turbine noise on human physiology.
We have even seen government secretly 'redacting' the recommendations of a report which recommended that the maximum permitted night noise level of 43dB(A) be cut to 38dB(A), or 33dB(A)if turbines were likely to create discernible ¿beating¿ noise (aka 'amplitude modulation').
The Noise Act (1996) protects people from noisy neighbours who break a 35dB(A) threshold at night. Doesn't apply to turbines of course!
The WHO 'Night noise guidelines for Europe' (2009) recommend a night exposure limit of 40dB(A). Sleepers that are exposed to higher levels over the year can suffer sleep disturbance and insomnia. In the longer term this can have severe health effects.
When the government suggested setting a 45dB(A) limit for small/domestic turbines, the professional body for environmental health professionals noted that nuisance research shows that the proposed noise levels would be 98% likely to cause complaints.
An editorial in the Noise Bulletin summed it up: "Only when the public can trust the Government and wind farm developers on noise issues will there be a chance that the public will accept them without a fight ...".”
by Anna, South West
Saturday, September 11 2010, 3:11PM
“The two comments left are obviously made by people who have not investigated the issue. If there were no noise issues from wind turbines, there would not be an annual Noise Conference... It is extremely difficult to get any reaction from either the council or the developer and the noise guidelines used in this country are totally outdated and should have been revised many years ago to take into account the increase in size of turbines nowadays. Your comments are extremely selfish - if it doesn't affect you, you just don't care... People had to leave their homes and you should both be truly ashamed!!!”
by JackM, East Huntspill
Friday, September 10 2010, 3:54PM
“I've been to this turbine, stood underneath and leaned against it, all with the farmer's permission. There was no noise that day other than the occasional muted motor sound as the blades turned into the wind and the sheep underneath it baa-ing. There wasn't any vibration either. The local residents' problem is that they'll be able to SEE them and are convinced their house prices will drop. I spoke to the nearest residents to this turbine who assured me they only ever hear it when the wind is high and I was told the same thing - persistent noise can be reported to the Environmental Health so that steps are taken to minimise disruption. It can't be that bad if the turbine is still in operation as that's what the regulations are there for.”
by ILpoppet, South West
Friday, September 10 2010, 9:39AM
“I have been past several turbines including that one and must say that I suspect the claims of turbine noise are disingenious to say the least. IF there were a noise nuisance then the councils Environmental Health Officer would have it shut down. On the other hand if there is no nuisance then following any noise complaint and noise monitoring, the council would conclude that there was not a problem leaving a disengruntled NIMBY to grumble unconvincingly.
Both new turbine applications will be subject to noise assessments as part of the planning process. What is the local residents problem?”