We are a small beleaguered community in the shadow of Whitelee windfarm – the largest onshore windfarm in Europe, – in need of help!.
This is a part of the impact of Whitelee on my home and yes, I can hear the turbines (see featured image above).
As if this wasn’t enough, CWP Ltd, a Cheshire based company, well known to many rural communities in Scotland for their aggressive windfarm development policies, have, at their third attempt, managed to gain consent for a further major windfarm, Sneddon Law, just to the right of the turbines shown in the photo above. For some of the residents in our community, this will mean towering wind turbines on three sides. Most people would find that intolerable.
We already suffer noise from Whitelee, although Scottish Power Renewables (SPR) will produce data to show that they have been operating up to and within the consented limit. However, we know that to do this, many of the turbines ( and you can see 50+ from our house alone) are frequently powered down or turned off – a common dubious practice when dealing with noise complaints.
The award of consent for Sneddon Law windfarm to CWP Ltd. was against the recommendation by East Ayrshire Council (EAC) Planning Department, and ignored over 80 objections, including those from three local Community Councils and even Scottish Power Renewables!
The Council had received concerns about excessive cumulative noise from both residents and SPR, before consent was awarded, but did not undertake their own independent analysis of the noise impact in the ES until after consent had been granted.
Once the implications of this development on the amenity of existing, long suffering residents became apparent, EAC commissioned their own acoustic consultant and as a result, attached operating noise constraints on Sneddon Law, such that the cumulative noise from the combined operation of both Whitelee and Sneddon Law would not exceed the maximum allowable under the ETSU-R-97 regulations .
CWP will not be able to operate their windfarm for maximum profitability under these terms and so, using the services of their agent they have applied to EAC, to amend or remove these restrictive planning conditions.
ACIA, acoustic consultants, have provided a recent report on their environmental statement, providing an interesting interpretation of data which they surmise would allow Sneddon Law to contribute to the noise pollution we already suffer. Their report is contrary to that provided by SPR (Hoare Lea consultants), EAC (Sharps acoustic consultant) and Local Resident’s acoustic consultant Dick Bowdler; all these reports are available for reading on the EAC Planning website.
This application on behalf of CWP Ltd is now before East Ayrshire Council for determination.
We are trying to recruit as many objections as we can against this application. Should this application succeed, it will give a green light to all developers, that any condition attached to a planning consent, to protect the welfare of existing residential neighbours , can potentially be overturned.
Please submit your objection by January 4th 2014. (Admin Note: Objections can be made online by filling out a quick couple of details at: https://scotlandagainstspin.org/Objections/sneddon-law/)
Thank you.
Rachel Connor
and many other affected wind farm neighbours!
19 Comments
Hugh Fraser · December 17, 2013 at 5:39 pm
I oppose further wind turbines at Sneddon Law
Jane Cameron · December 17, 2013 at 5:39 pm
Strongly object
T.A.S.GIBSON · December 17, 2013 at 6:28 pm
Enough is enough, Scotland’s environment is being blighted by Turbines which is slowly killing the Tourist Industry and eroding property prices,
D. Powell · December 17, 2013 at 7:40 pm
Kafka would have been proud of the reporters! Some know nothing of the local countryside, care even less, ignore local planning guidelines, and are arrogant to the point of making judgements which go against all logic – surely nobody claiming to have a degree and be professionally independent can be that stupid. Or can they?
Susan Crosthwaite · December 17, 2013 at 10:47 pm
These noise complaints should be upheld. It is an outrage to disreguard the opinions of so many local people and breaches Article 7 of the Aarhus convention
Jannis Low · December 18, 2013 at 1:09 pm
I object to the application on basis of cumulative impact and noise impact on neighbouring residents The ETSU noise guidelines are outdated and not appropriate for modern much taller turbines. The impact on their health should be properly considered .
Katie Connor · December 19, 2013 at 4:27 am
I object further wind turbines at Sneddon Law. At what point will these wind turbine companies show a shred of integrity or consideration for the people who’s life they permanently blight with these monstrous wind farms? Have them put a wind farm in their garden.
Mrs Mona Connor · December 19, 2013 at 7:53 pm
These windmills are very noisy and spoil the lovely Scottish countryside.
G.Harrison-Smith · December 19, 2013 at 8:51 pm
What about our human right to live in peace. It is not as though these things are going to save the planet, more likely they will kill us by putting us into fuel poverty.
Keith Mycock · December 20, 2013 at 9:22 am
Developers have no respect for local residents, they will push the already inadequate limits to the extreme and then want even more relaxations. This application should be firmly rejected.
Debby Lush · December 21, 2013 at 3:47 pm
Scotland has enough wind farms now. Time to stop.
margaret hair · December 21, 2013 at 5:36 pm
Noise is produced by each and every turbine<the closer the proximity the worse it is
turbine developers do not measure noise level before operation of turbines and are limited in there efforts afterwards
more stringent testing is required complying with the current laws on noise levels
I object to this turbine development
Barbara Andrews · December 21, 2013 at 7:15 pm
Time to stop.
Dr William Casey · December 23, 2013 at 1:11 pm
I support this petition
Alan Boyce · December 24, 2013 at 11:56 pm
This development must not go ahead. To surround a community with wind farms is unbelievably stupid. How can planning permission even be considered for this project. Geo-thermal would produce more power pro rata and cost less. Off shore wind farms I might possibly support but on shore is just not on. Unjustifiable efficeincey in these projects. When the wind doesn’t blow the power does not flow and we the tax payers have to pay for it!!!!!!
Catherine Blatch · January 3, 2014 at 2:05 pm
We have seen the distress and destruction large wind farms have made to landscape, migratory birds, property values, and quality of living here in Canada. I think particularly of Wolfe Island near Kingston, Ontario, where there are 86 huge turbines monopolizing the horizon. The other day I saw them transporting the largest wind vanes I have ever seen along the 401 – no idea where they were taking them, but no doubt to somewhere they are unwanted. We need power to support our current lifestyles but surely there are better ways and more economical ways of producing it. I support your petition against the wind turbines at Sneddon Law.
Maureen Beaumont · January 3, 2014 at 8:46 pm
I strongly object to this application at Sneddon Law. Etsu-97 regulations are out-dated – simply a farce. These speculative applications should be dismissed immediately- they are costing every local authority a fortune.
Fiona Ainslie · January 18, 2014 at 9:41 am
The protection ETSU-R-97 provides to residents is little enough it is thoughtless and inconsiderate for a developer to propose to operate outside these controls. Many homes already suffer from noise from turbines in this area they must not be expected to take more.