Fullabrook noise testing reveals wind farm is too noisy

Credit: www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk 25 September 2012 ~~

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The country’s biggest on shore wind farm is too noisy according to the results of noise testing, it has been revealed today (Tuesday).

But North Devon Council (NDC), as the local planning authority, could not confirm whether this breach of the wind farm’s planning regulations would see them forcing Fullabrook Wind Farm to close.

The testing was carried out at the 22 turbine site earlier this year by ESB International, the operator of the site.

The period of testing was extended when people living nearby feared the results would be affected by a spell of unusually calm weather.

NDC has to ensure the company behind the wind farm ESB International is not breaching the planning regulations, which include the turbines not be allowed to exceed a certain level of noise.

But today NDC has revealed the preliminary findings from the testing show four of the 12 sites tested have exceeded that accepted level.

The full results will be released on Friday.

NDC Leader, Councillor Brian Greenslade, said: “We are very conscious local people are eager to find out the results of the noise monitoring around the wind farm.

“We are satisfied the monitoring has been done thoroughly and hope the findings will reassure some people, whilst identifying further work that the developer needs to do to bring all of the locations within the permitted noise levels and to deal with any issues associated with tonal noise.”

ESB is now in discussion with the manufacturers of the turbines to try and resolve the matter within the next two weeks.

They believe the noise problems are a result of a tonal fault with the turbines.

A spokesman from ESB said: “Where measured noise levels have been shown to be above the noise limits, additional mitigation will be applied to the turbines to ensure that the wind farm is operating below the noise limits, set out in the planning conditions.”

Once any actions have been carried out, further noise measurements will then take place at the affected sites, to ensure the turbines are meeting the agreed planning conditions.

Source: www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk 25 September 2012

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