| Wind farms - a few facts |
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Page 3 of 3
Westfield Lane, Darrington – some observationsGiven the close proximity of Darrington and Wentbridge to the proposed site, it is quite a shock that Banks Renewables Ltd. propose as many as six 2.5Mw turbines due to their huge size. There is a big difference in the size of different turbines. The larger turbines may have a large physical presence which will raise objections of visual intrusion in both Darrington and Wentbridge but smaller turbines may not be as visible from these villages. This is significant since the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors carried out a survey in 2004 which showed that there was a 20% reduction in house prices if wind turbines were visible from a property. However, even smaller turbines will be visible from East Hardwick, Carleton and West Park. On the question of noise, the turbines at each end of the development would be close enough to Darrington/Wentbridge to be audible at certain times. The sound which a lot of people find so objectionable is an aerodynamic sound produced at certain times by the blades of the turbine. The Internet is full of comments from people being kept awake at night by noise from the new larger types of turbines.
Wind turbines also produce sub-audible infrasound. In parts of Europe there are people claiming to have been made ill by this inaudible pulsing. This effect has been measured by Keele University using seismic transducers buried in the ground many kilometres from the base of wind turbines. Several doctors in the UK are now reporting patients being affected from low frequency sound when turbines are located within a mile of domestic dwellings. One point which may be of specific concern to people in Darrington is the effect of so called ‘flicker’ from the sun’s rays. Because the proposed development is due south of the village there are times of the year when the blades of the turbines may cause this effect which can be a |
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