March 5, 2013
England

Kessingland wind turbine poses risk to A12 traffic claim made

Anthony Carroll | Eastern Daily Press | March 5, 2013 | www.edp24.co.uk

Fears have been raised that one of the wind turbines at Kessingland could distract motorists on the A12.

The Kessingland Wind Turbine Pressure Group (KWTPG) has made a video showing how shadows cast by the blades of the 125m turbine near the Whites Lane roundabout fall onto passing drivers’ windscreens .

Its members claim this could lead to a serious accident.

However, Suffolk County Council says it has it has investigated the so-called “shadow flicker” and there is no implications for road safety, while the turbines’ operator Triodos Renewables also insists there is no danger.

The concerns raised by KWTPG are the latest step in its determined campaign to get the two turbines switched off as it claims they are blighting people’s lives by creating noise and shadow flicker as they turn.

KWTPG member Jean Purkis, 76, who lives in Lloyds Avenue, claims the flicker caused by the turbine nearly caused her to have a crash with another vehicle by the roundabout.

She said: “The shadows are a distraction to drivers, especially to lorry drivers as they are higher up in their cabins. Something needs to be done as I fear an accident will happen and then who will be to blame? I can imagine lawyers getting involved.”

Richard Dexter, 66, of Black Street, Gisleham, is also a member of KWTPG. He said: “It’s a weird distraction. You can see a large black line approaching you as you drive. I can understand people who may not know about the turbines suddenly thinking ‘what on earth is that?’ and losing ‘concentration. Eventually an accident will occur.”

A copy of the video produced by KWTPG has been viewed by county council officials.

A council spokesman said: “We have looked at the situation and, while we acknowledge that the turbines do cast a shadow in certain lights, we do not consider there to be any danger to drivers.”

Matthew Clayton, managing director of Triodos Renewables, said the turbine complied with all planning procedures and no issues had been raised in relation to its proximity to the A12.

Mr Clayton said that in regard to the general issue of shadow flicker affecting homes in Kessingland and Gisleham, Triodos had turned off the turbines for the equivalent of 80 hours so far to mitigate the problem.

However, KWTPG still wants the turbines switched off due to the shadow flicker and noise, which has led to some people installing double glazing or moving their bedroom to a quieter part of their home.

The turbines have been generating power since June 2011, having won planning consent despite fierce opposition. They are said to be capable of producing enough power for up to 3,000 homes.

Last August, Waveney District Council concluded that one of the turbines caused a statutory nuisance to one property.

Mrs Purkis said: “We are all suffering. All we get for those two monsters is aggravation.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/03/05/kessingland-wind-turbine-poses-risk-to-a12-traffic-claim-made/