Wind turbines do cause noise problems say the UK Noise Association (UKNA)
A new report has been published by the ‘UK Noise Association’ called “Location Location Location”. The Association who are experts in this field make a number of recommendations including:
- No wind turbines should be sited closer than a mile from the nearest dwellings stating even this may not be enough depending on the scale and nature of the proposed development
- There needs to be a clear and public recognition by the wind power industry that wind turbines are causing significant noise problems for some people
- The official government guidelines for the siting of wind turbines need to be revised to take account of the more intrusive nature of the noise in areas where the overall background noise level is low (i.e. rural settings)
The reports “Concluding Comment” says:
“Wind farms can play a role in reducing global warming emissions. But there is a very real danger that, in the enthusiasm to embrace clean technology, legitimate concerns about noise are being brushed aside. There is no doubt that some existing wind farms are causing real noise problems. This report has stopped short of arguing that those turbines should be shut down, although that possibility should never be ruled out. However, it would be quite unacceptable to our fellow citizens for this situation to be replicated in other parts of the country as new turbines come on stream. But this need not be the case. The positive conclusion of this report is that there is a constructive way forward. It simply requires sensible siting of the new wind farms. It’s all about “location, location, location”. It is in the interests of the wind power industry, environmental groups and local communities for us to get that right”.
LINKS
NPL The UK’s National Measurement Laboratory
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