August 17, 2012
Wales

Buffer zone proposals for Anglesey wind turbines

by Owen R Hughes, DPW West | www.dailypost.co.uk 17 August 2012

Buffer zones around wind turbines are set to be 10 times their height.

Anglesey council had previously proposed 500 metre exclusion zones around homes and tourism sites for all turbines over 20 metres in their Supplementary Planning Guidance(SPG) for on-shore energy.

But after consultation they are now considering a ‘X10’ policy, where a 25 metre turbine (to rotor tip) would have a 250 metre buffer while an 80 metre one would have a separation distance of 800m.

Opponents say this is not enough to protect the island from a proliferation of turbines that they say will destroy views and wreck tourism.

Nic Moore, from Anglesey Against Wind Turbines, said: “The revised distances are a joke.

“The wind farmers will just measure distances from properties and tailor the size of their turbines to fit in where they can squeeze them.

“There should be a blanket ban on all wind turbines above 15m on Anglesey.

“Or at least a two-mile (not Km) distance zone from any dwelling.

“Why is the council making life easy for the wind farmers and ruining our island in the process?”

Donna Marie Roberts said: “The previous planning guidance suggested that a distance of 500 metres was required between a 20 metre to the hub wind turbine and a dwelling.

“This now is less than half that distance, and the council are simply showing that they’ve lost the plot.”

The new draft policy will now go out to an eight-week consultation.

A spokeswoman said: “Residents are being given a further opportunity to help shape the future of wind energy.”

The consultation started yesterday and will continue until October 11.

When it is adopted in its final form, the SPG will support and supplement all the relevant policies that apply to on-shore wind energy development.

To read the full document and to respond go to ‘consultations’ at the Anglesey council website, anglesey.gov.uk. It is also available at the council offices in Llangefni and at libraries across the island.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/17/buffer-zone-proposals-for-anglesey-wind-turbines/