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The Proposal Windpower Renewables Ltd has already installed a 70m meteorological mast to gather wind data for a maximum of 12 months. It is then expected that Windpower Renewables Ltd will apply for planning permission to build two wind turbines. www.windpowerrenewables.com Location The position of these turbines is clearly shown on the animation on the homepage. <<Click here>> to get an impression of the location of these proposed turbines. This wind farm is being planned on a green field site and will be positioned only 500m from residential houses. The actual area involved to site the turbines is large due to the great size of the wind turbines and the space allocation required between them. Size The testing mast is 70m high. However, each wind turbine will be 125m high and will have a wind span equivalent to a jumbo jet. This is roughly seven times the height of a typical village church, or nearly the height of the London Eye! Clearly the wind farm will be visible over many miles and they will dominate the sky line.
Planning permission and timing It is expected that Windpower Renewables Ltd will apply for planning permission soon.
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Our Objections 1) The proposed site is a green field site This represents the industrialisation of a rural area. S.W.W.A.G. 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? 2) The site is only 500m from residential houses 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. S.W.W.A.G. believes that the whole village and surrounding villages (Long Thurlow, Badwell Ash, Westhorpe and Walsham Le Willows) will be affected. Click <<<here>>> for a report for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. 3) The size of the turbines is too large and they will pollute the skyline. The proposed development is completely out of scale with the surrounding countryside and will be seen from up to 15km away. At 126m high (nearly as high as the London Eye) and with a blade span greater than that of a jumbo jet,the turbines will be significantly taller than the current testing mast. It is difficult to appreciate how large these turbines will be - hopefully this picture helps. S.W.W.A.G. understands that on shore wind turbines have to be built very large to achieve any 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 <<<here>>> to read a press cutting in the Daily Telegraph outlining his views. 4) On-shore wind farms are not an efficient source of energy 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. Due to the low efficiency the wind turbines have to be built even larger. 5) Wind turbines could be the cause of health problems S.W.W.A.G. 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 www.ninapierpont.com 6) Rural tranquility will be severely compromised. 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 effect local residents and could effect students of Bacton Middle School. To see the recent report on Wind farms in Rural England please click <<<here>> To see a recent report on wind farm and their impact by the Country Guardian organisation please click <<<here>>> 7) The site will interfere with a close by bridle path. The proposed site has a bridle path that will be effected 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. 8) The construction of the wind turbines will have an adverse effect on wildlife. Wildlife could be killed both during the construction and by the moving blades of the turbines themselves. S.W.W.A.G. 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 9) Value of property could be reduced The wind farm will reduce the amenity value and hence property prices for residents in the area. S.W.W.A.G. 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%. 10) Having built two wind turbines more could follow Once the infrastructure is in place it is possible that further turbines may be planned. 11) Profiteering The rapid increase in planning applications for onshore wind farms is being driven by the profit motive of the land owners and developers. At present massive subsidies through the Renewables obligation system is leading to an over reliance on this means of renewable generation at the expense of other sources e.g. biomass, wave and tidal. They have no economic benefit to the local economy. S.W.W.A.G. agrees with the Government that onshore wind farms should only be approved where the environmental, economic and social impacts can be addressed. In this case they should not. Other protests 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.stop-wadlow-wind-farm.org.uk
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