April 17, 2015
England

Wind turbines noise forced me out of my bedroom, claims woman

By Sarah Moore | News & Star | 17 April 2015 | www.newsandstar.co.uk

A Workington woman says she has been forced to move out of her bedroom because of the noise of wind turbines near her home.

Michele Twiss, 68, whose home overlooks the Winscales windfarm, told a Government inspector that windfarms were overpowering West Cumbria and the area was “under attack”.

She was speaking at a planning inquiry into four turbines, up to 325ft high, which FCC Environment wants to install at Lillyhall’s landfill site.

The plan was turned down by the county council because of the turbines’ visual impact, but the firm appealed against the decision.

A three-day inquiry into the council’s decision began on Tuesday at Energus, Lillyhall.

Mrs Twiss said: “From my home I can see 28 turbines that go as far as Bothel.

“It’s the cumulative effect. We’re being surrounded and we’re not given a corridor where we can have some break.

“I think people feel disenfranchised and intimidated because they feel they’re a lone voice against these big companies.

“It shouldn’t be that because this is an area that already had wind turbines we should have more.”

Mrs Twiss said she had to move out of her front bedroom, where she had an en suite installed, because she could hear the Winscales turbines at night.

Thomas Charrier, landscape architect for FCC Environment, said the turbines were planned in a working, semi-industrial urban area.

Mr Charrier said: “It’s my professional opinion that the landscape in the vicinity of the proposed scheme has the capacity to accommodate the scale of development proposed.”

Jayne Petersen, county council senior planning officer, had recommended the Lillyhall proposal for approval until plans for three turbines at Potato Pot, near Branthwaite, were granted at appeal.

Planning inspector Jessica Graham will consider both proposals and decide whether either is acceptable.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/04/17/wind-turbines-noise-forced-me-out-of-my-bedroom-claims-woman/