Controversial Palgrave wind turbine shut down  

Credit:  By Dominic Bareham, Norwich Evening News, www.eveningnews24.co.uk 9 February 2012 ~~

A controversial village wind turbine has been shut down while a long-term solution is found to problems with noise from the rotor blades – which neighbours say is keeping them awake at night and causing health problems.

The Palgrave Community Centre committee has switched off the 24m turbine on the edge of the village playing fields after villagers in Lows Lane, the Green and Upper Rose Lane complained they could not sleep due to the “whirring” sound which was causing persistent migraines.

Concerns were also raised about “flicker” from the turbine casting shadows over neighbouring gardens.

Upper Rose Lane resident Neil Weston, who is opposed to the turbine, said district council inspectors visited nearby homes at 1am to determine what effect the noise of the blades was having.

He added villagers wanted the community centre to consider alternative sources of renewable energy, such as a biomass boiler or solar panels, which the community centre had rejected.

“We are very happy now. The villagers and I can sleep peacefully again.

“The turbine is still there, but in many ways it being there is not the issue. The fact is, it was making too much noise and they have decided to turn it off.”

Community centre committee member John Kilgannon said: “We are working with the manufacturer Gaia, Mosscliff the contractor and the local council to get the turbine working as soon as possible.

“The savings on our electricity bills and the income from Feed-In-Tariffs will help fund essential work needed at the community centre for the next 25 years.”