February 9, 2012
Scotland

MEP objects to turbines’ “risk”

Montrose Review, www.montrosereview.co.uk 9 February 2012

Scottish MEP Struan Stevenson has added his voice in opposition to GlaxoSmithKline’s proposed wind turbine development.

Mr Stevenson has said he objects “strongly” to plans to site two 426-feet turbines at the Cobden Street factory due to their proximity to residential areas in Ferryden and the Barracks area.

In a letter to George Chree, Angus Council’s head of planning, Mr Stevenson said the site is “completely unacceptable” and claimed that the turbines will have a “detrimental impact” on the health of residents and the company’s own employees.

He said: “Independent biomedical experts have now shown that living close to a turbine can cause headaches, dizziness, sleep deprivation, unsteadiness, nausea, exhaustion, mood-swings and the inability to concentrate.

“The low frequency noise produced by these turbines presents a further danger when combined with visual effects such as shadow flicker. This compounds the adverse impact on residents and can induce both physical and psychological symptoms.”

He also alleged that GSK would be placing residents and employees at “considerable risk” from ice thrown from turbine blades and he also referred to turbines on wind farms at Ardrossan and Coldingham which were on fire in December due to storm damage.

Mr Stevenson also pointed to Scottish Government planning policy which states that, although applications will be considered on a case by case basis, a two kilometre separation distance between turbines and the edge of settlements would be accepted by Scottish ministers.

GSK has said previously that design elements of the turbines should address concerns, including a flicker mitigation system which can calculate where a shadow will fall at any time of day and at any time of year, a four-stage early warning fire detection and extinguishing system and heated blades to prevent ice build-up.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/02/09/mep-objects-to-turbines-risk/