January 6, 2015
England

Roger gives turbine a very poor reception

Leighton Buzzard Observer | 05 January 2015 | www.leightonbuzzardonline.co.uk

Villagers living near a 450ft wind turbine are dealing with an unexpected side effect that has whipped up a stir.

The Heath and Reach turbine – the biggest onshore one in the country when it was erected – officially began turning on Thursday, December 18.

For some people, enthusiasm for the project turned to frustration when they found their TV signals starting to fail.

Roger Smallridge, 75, said: “Since the turbine went on our TV reception has not been worth looking at. BBC East isn’t working at all. An engineer has been round but he says the only thing he can try is to turn the aerial towards Oxford, or for us to get Sky TV.”

Roger and his wife live at Overend Green Lane. Located around half a mile away from the turbine, they are among the closest residents to it but aren’t the only ones affected.

Heath and Reach’s Facebook page has been ablaze with comments about the problems. Kate Allan posted “TV is unwatchable, picture constantly breaking up.”

Colin Taylor, of Leighton Aerials, confirmed to the LBO that the company had been called out numerous times in just one day to sort out TV signals.

David Hale, development control manager at Central Beds, said: “I am aware the council has received one complaint regarding loss of television signal from Heath and Reach, believed by the complainant to be due to the new wind turbine. The council consulted with the necessary technical consultees at the time of the application and no objection was received.”

It is believed that Arnold White Estates – the agents for the project – are compiling a report on the problem to see if they are at fault. They were contacted by the LBO but declined to comment.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/01/06/roger-gives-turbine-a-very-poor-reception/