July 7, 2008
England
England
Villagers are protesting about plans to build wind turbines less than a quarter of a mile from their homes.
More than 100 objections have been lodged by locals to the proposals for the site in Hawthorn, Cold Hesledon and East Murton, County Durham.
They fear the noise of the turbines will be too intrusive and are concerned the flicker effect from the turbines’ giant blades could cause car accidents or even epileptic fits.
Objector Paul Paterson said: “They should be built a minimum of a mile away from peoples’ houses. If it goes ahead then one of them will be only 450 metres from my house.
“One house will be less than 300 metres away from a turbine.”
To highlight their concerns the protesters handed the Sunday Sun a DVD showing the effect of wind turbines in the nearby village of Seaton.
The short film shows heavy shadows from the blades sweeping over the inside and outside of the houses.
Mr Paterson said: “The government is on a bandwagon and local planners are being encouraged to look favourably upon the application.”
David Hobbs, case officer for Easington District Council which is dealing with the application, said: “We are not at liberty to discuss applications.”
But Mr Paterson may be the least of the council’s worries, as the Ministry of Defence has also registered protests, saying the proposed turbines would interfere with radars at the nearby bases RAF Leeming and RAF Spadeadam.
by Ruari O Toole
6 July 2008
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/07/07/county-durham-villagers-in-turbine-protest/