Ancient noise control laws swept away by the march of the large wind turbine
Noise control laws are so out of date they will do nothing to protect residents against a swathe of huge new wind turbines, a charity has warned.
Current restrictions only refer to existing turbines up to 90ft in height, says the Environmental Protection UK group.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has drawn up plans for around 4,000 turbines, many of which will be up to 270ft high, to supplement the existing 219 wind farms in the UK.
The environmental group, which campaigns to minimise noise pollution, says the Government guidelines were due to be revised 11 years ago.
It has written to Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt demanding that they be renewed in the light of technological advances.
The guidance assumes ground level background noise, such as rustling leaves, helps mask blade noise. But any effect is often cancelled out by large turbines.
Mary Stevens, Environmental Protection UK’s policy officer, said: ‘We are concerned the guidance is no longer appropriate.
‘We need to be sure that where renewables are sited, they are not going to cause problems.’
The British Wind Energy Association says a 2007 independent study found only four complaints from around 2,000 turbines – and 94 per cent of those who live near turbines are in favour of them.
By Daily Mail Reporter
Mail Online
26 November 2009
Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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