August 28, 2014
Wales

Speaking out to end turbine concerns

Carmarthen Journal | August 27, 2014 | www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk

Developers behind plans for a wind turbine twice the height of Paxton’s Tower in the Towy Valley have reassured residents over their concerns about the project.

Ahead of a public meeting at Llanarthne Village Hall next month Steve Hack, of Seren Energy, has spoken out after residents revealed their worries last week.

Seren Energy is technical consultant to the scheme which could see with the 243ft turbine earmarked for land formerly part of Blaenpibwr, Llanddarog.

The developers are Carmarthen Energy and a local land owner.

Mr Hack said plans are yet to be submitted to Carmarthenshire Council.

Residents have raised a catalogue of concerns including noise, light flicker created by the turning blades, proximity to properties and devaluation of homes.

Along with disturbance to wildlife and safety concerns over how close it would be to an oil pipeline.

However Mr Hack has said the turbine will be first of its kind in the area – meaning it will be community owned.

He explained: “It will be owned by Carmarthenshire Energy, which is an industrial and provident society for community benefit, and will be the first community owned wind turbine in Carmarthenshire.

“Shares in the project will be available for local residents to purchase if planning permission is given.”

Turning to the concerns raised by residents, Mr Hack said: “While there are properties within 650 metres of the turbine all of these are more than 520 metres from the turbine and at this distance there will be no noise issues for residents.

“The model of turbine proposed is a gearless modern turbine with a low noise signature compared with many of the turbines currently installed in the county.

“Flicker effects are proven to only occur within 480 metres of this model of turbine and inside a building when the flicker is seen through a narrow window opening.”

Minimum

Mr Hack added: “There are no properties within 480 metres of the turbine and therefore there will not be a flicker problem for any residences.”

He also emphasised that the turbine would be located at a distance from the oil pipeline which exceeds the legal minimum.

He added: “There is no peer reviewed evidence which supports claims that wind turbines reduce property prices.”

Looking at the visual aspect on the Towy Valley Mr Hack said: “This turbine connects very simply to the existing grid network and there will be only a few new single poles carrying the new line to connect to the existing lines nearby.”

The meeting to discuss the turbine will be held at 7.30pm on September 2 at the village hall.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/08/28/speaking-out-to-end-turbine-concerns/