November 27, 2011
Scotland

Lack of sleep is making lives a misery

The Sunday Post, 27 November 2011

Two families in a Scottish glen say their health is being affected by a nearby windfarm.

Residents living in what was once dubbed the “secret valley” – previously unspoiled countryside three miles inland from Girvan – say the pounding of the Hadyard Hill wind farm is making it impossible to get a decent sleep.

And during waking hours bleary eyed locals are being subjected to “shadow flicker” – a “disturbing” intermittent shadow cast over their homes when the sun is behind the rotating blades of 52-turbines.

Full-time foster carer Robert Baldwin, who lives in a cottage just over 1km east from the site, explained: “We don’t know what health effects this noise is having on people.

“If 10km is proven to be the safe distance, that should be the distance they build from.”

Mr Baldwin, who has a 34-year-old disabled son, added: “When the blades are spinning the noise tunes itself into your heartbeat and it’s a thump, thump, thump.

“We feel constantly tired because we’re just not getting proper rest.”

Retired civil servant Kay Siddell who lives nearby with her husband John believes her health has been compromised by the windfarm.

“I have autoimmune problems. I think there’s a link between stress and my health problems and living in the circumstances that we do is stress inducing.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/11/27/lack-of-sleep-is-making-lives-a-misery/