May 27, 2015
England

Fresh noise monitoring bid in Den Brook wind farm row

Mid Devon Gazette | May 26, 2015 | www.middevongazette.co.uk

Campaigners fighting a decade long battle against a wind farm on the edge of Dartmoor have revealed plans to broadcast the noise from the turbines live on the internet to deter investors.

Renewable Energy Systems (RES) has permission to erect nine 120m (390ft) high turbines, on land between North Tawton and Bow.

The plans have been subject of a lengthy planning row including a public inquiry with the renewables company triumphing at the highest court in the land earlier this year.

The opponents focused on the issue of noise from turbines in addition to the visual impact of the structure, raising concerns about the low frequency ‘wind-shear’ noise of the giant blades slicing through the air.

Mike Hulme, of the Den Brook Judicial Review Group said although the noise from turbines was not loud, it had the potential to be intrusive.

He said: “It is not going to deafen people but a constant low frequency noise has the power to create symptoms like sea sickness.”

“We will prove that the noise is there and that anyone can hear it.”

Mr Hulme said a formal notice had been served on RES that, when actually completed, the noise generated by the turbines would be under constant scrutiny.

He said RES would have to notify potential investors and that he believed this would deter anyone wanting to financially back the project.

“We intend to say that the noise is there an it is available for anyone to listen to it,” said Mr Hulme.

A spokeswoman for RES dismissed the objectors comments. “It is both sad and unhelpful for all concerned that Mr Hulme and DBJRG are unable to accept the fact that the highest courts in the land do not agree with their views about the way in which noise should be assessed at Den Brook Wind Farm,” the spokeswoman said.

“Over the last six years Mr Hulme has brought various legal challenges against RES and the wind farm.

“His challenge was decided earlier this year when a Court of Appeal judge ruled that nothing could be gained from further legal proceedings regarding the way in which West Devon Borough Council has discharged its obligations regarding the noise condition at Den Brook Wind Farm.”

The spokeswoman said that it had hoped the ruling “would help Mr Hulme to accept” that everything possible has been done “to ensure that people in the area will be protected in the unlikely event of noise disturbance from the wind farm.”

RES said Den Brook Wind Farm has full planning consent and it was currently gearing up for construction.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/05/27/fresh-noise-monitoring-bid-in-den-brook-wind-farm-row/