01/08/12 Letter to Carmarthen Journal "Turbines v People"

                       Turbines  v  People

What matters more: green energy targets or residents' health?  Profits for developers or profits from tourism? Clear evidence has emerged from recent local inquiries that people living near the Alltwalis  wind farm have suffered from turbine noise to an unacceptable level. The government has laid down a system called ETSU which is supposed to prevent such events happening but it has clearly failed to do so. It is very worrying that ETSU is still being used in assessing another 60 giant turbines that could be built in the Mynydd Llanllwni / Llanfrihangel Rhos y Corn area, so even more people could be adversely affected.

It is astounding to discover that, in forecasting the sound level likely to be experienced at individual properties, so called experts are allowed to ignore low frequency sound emanating from turbines, since very low frequencies (also known as infrasound) can't be heard by human beings. However, this sound can be experienced by several other human senses. An increasing number of independent studies,  some commissioned by DEFRA, have shown that low frequency noise of all types can cause neurological problems, even when at the infrasound level. Also this type of noise can be experienced at surprising distances such as 5 or even 25 miles away. Despite all  this evidence, governments at all levels have recently refused to re-evaluate the ETSU  guidelines, so it seems the health of the public and its human rights are less important than green energy!

Developers also tell us that a large majority of the general public are in favour of onshore wind farms and would not be put off from visiting areas with turbines. What they do not mention is that the vast majority of survey respondents (mostly from South East England) have no knowledge of the problems associated with these giant industrial structures. It is difficult to accept that potential tourists would want to spend time in an area littered with these noisy, potentially dangerous, giant machines, as opposed to a tranquil unspoiled countryside. More tourism is obviously in the economic interest of Carmarthenshire and to allow developments which would offset such beneficial progress is the height of folly!

Ted Razzell