Manifesto

This represents the industrialisation of a rural area. swwag opposes that this rural site should be developed as it would lead to an increase in traffic in the area, increased noise and it would therefore pollute our small village. Wyverstone is a rural community and already coping with heavy agricultural traffic on its road system. Any industrial development would result in degradation of this beautiful village and the surrounding countryside.Having changed the use of land from a green field site at Potash Farm in Wyverstone it is possible that the site could be developed further for example with further turbines or into a light industrial estate. This proposal could set a precedent in Suffolk to allow more green sites to be developed in the future.
This could destroy the landscape in Suffolk and other rural areas across the UK.In Germany, the national newspaper 'Der Spiegel' ran a story investigating the development of windfarms across Germany. The headline ran 'How the dream of sustainable energy turned into the subsidised destruction of the countryside.' Is this a road we wish to travel on?

Currently it is recommended that wind turbines are 2000m from local houses.At only 500m these local residents will be adversely affected by various types of noise during the day and at night and their property valuations could be reduced. swwag believes that the whole village and surrounding villages (Long Thurlow, Badwell Ash, Westhorpe and Walsham Le Willows) will be affected.Click on the button for a report for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

The proposed development is completely out of scale with the surrounding countryside and will be seen from up to 15km away. At 130m high (nearly as high as the London Eye) and with a blade span greater than that of a jumbo jet, it is difficult to appreciate. swwag understands that on shore wind turbines have to be built very large to achieve good efficiency. It is understood that even building them this big would only achieve 30% wind efficiency at best. Prince Charles has also opposed on shore wind turbines due to their size. Click on the button to read a press cutting in the Daily Telegraph outlining his views.

On-shore wind turbines are likely to be low efficient. In particular, Suffolk has lower than average wind speed and therefore the wind turbines will generate relatively small amounts of power. The reduction in CO2 emissions is completely outweighed by the negative impacts they have on local people and countryside.

swwag understands that emergent US and European science has highlighted concerns about potential health risks to those living near a wind farm including lack of sleep, vibro-acoustic disease and visual disturbances. See information from Nina Pierpont on her website, please click here for more information.

Both during the construction period with increased traffic at the onset of works and the wind turbine noise afterwards. Infrasound noise and low frequency noise generated by the turbines will affect local residents and could affect students of Bacton Middle School.To see the recent report on Wind farms in Rural England please click the link here.

To see a recent report on wind farms and their impact by the Country Guardian organisation please click here.

The proposed site has a bridlepath running through the middle of it that will be affected and possibly made unusable. The bridle way next to the site (Hundred Lane and Kiln Lane) has historic rights of way from the 10th century and has recently re-opened.

Wildlife could be killed both during the construction and by the moving blades of the turbines themselves.swwag understands that the turning blades can kill birds and bats and disturb ground animals. The introduction of tons of concrete in the foundations of each turbine will fragment local wildlife degrading our natural environment. To see more details see the National Wind Watch website www.wind-watch.org
Please see below the article "Deadly blades; death toll mounts as wind farms massacre birds of prey".

The wind farm will reduce the amenity value and hence property prices for residents in the area. swwag have learned from a Chartered Surveyor that properties within a two mile radius of the site could see their property prices reduced by 10%, while those living closer could be reduced by 20%.

Once the infrastructure is in place it is possible that further turbines may be planned.

There are many other locations also protesting about proposed wind farms. Do have a look at their websites for more information about wind issues.

www.cambridgewindfarm.org.uk
www.stop-wadlow-wind-farm.org.uk
www.showt.org.uk
www.stoplintonwindfarm.org.uk
www.ract.co.uk