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Wind turbine noise unbearable |
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Page 1 of 2 Wind turbine noise unbearable
A letter on 9 June 2007, in the Brechin Advertiser highlights the plight of Jane Davis and her family who for the last 11 months have suffered unbearable wind turbine noise which has peaked at 66dB. Despite this, there is no breach of the wind turbine ETSU-R-97 noise guidelines.
 BBC Radio interviewed Jane Davis and then asked a spokesman for the turbine operators for his comments. Trevor Gaits, speaking on behalf of Wind Prospect, described the Davis's plight as "unfortunate" and stated firmly that their windfarm was "compliant with all current noise regulations" and "meets our planning permission requirement". The World Health Organisation recommends the level of continuous noise outside a dwelling should be 45 dB or less. This means that the noise outside the Davis' home can exceed this .jpg "Image") limit by 100 times. (Increasing the dB level by 20 multiplies the noise level by 100. Thus the 66 dB measured at the Davis' house is 100 times louder than the loudest continuous outdoor night time noise (45 dB) recommended by the World Health Organisation).
The Davis family are indeed "unfortunate". There are ten wind turbine developments proposed for Angus and there are in excess of 100 properties within a mile of the proposed Montreathmont and Rossie Moor turbines.
Jane Davis was invited to speak about wind turbine noise problems at Farnell because local people believed it was essential that everyone understood just how disturbing turbines could be and that, once they were up, it might not be possible to resolve any noise problems. Farnell people listened in silence as Mrs Davis played a recording, made using BBC Radio 4 equipment, of the appalling noise audible from her back door. The noise, she informed the meeting is present for 60% of the time and persists for at least a further 600m past her home – a noise which recently peaked at 66dB. This noise has forced them to rent a house just to sleep in and their £180,000 home is now worth just the value of the land. Despite this appalling situation, there is no compensation and they have no remedy in law. A neighbour of the Michelin turbines in Dundee told the Farnell meeting of the unbearable noise that stopped him sleeping. Similar, written warnings of turbine noise have also been sent to Angus Council from people living close to turbines at Crystal Rig, Glens of Foudland and Ireleth.
A spokesman for Novera, the organisation who are proposing to erect the turbines at Rossie Moor, also addressed the meeting. David Taylor sought to reassure everyone by reporting that acoustic consultants Hayes McKenzie had been engaged to advise both themselves and Angus Council. Mr Taylor went on to say that as a result of their "360 degree" acoustic monitoring, he was "absolutely certain the noise emanating from the proposed turbines would not breach standards" and he was sure that planning conditions placed on their development would also protect neighbours from noise. Mr Taylor was almost paraphrasing the above comments made by the developer of the windfarm at the Davis' home.
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