21/11/12 Speech at planning committee meeting

PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING 20/11/12

 My name is Ted Razzell and i've been in Llanllwni since 1971. I want to put it to the committee that RES information, concerning the impact of sound levels on the local community, is unreliable and misleading. I've heard from neighbours suffering from noise problems, produced by the existing  nearby wind farm called Alltwalis.  So I'm concerned about the possible repeat of the problem from this application, and I've looked into the sound issue to see what was behind it. // A process called ETSU 97 R has been used here to determine where turbines may be placed to produce acceptable levels of sound at the homes of local people. Local background noise was measured and set against turbine noise to produce a residual extra noise. Getting an accurate measure of ambient noise raises problems, especially in a very tranquil place like Llanllwni but I don't have time to explore these issues. Instead I will look at how turbine noise is measured. Close up, very little noise can be perceived at ground level but, at blade level, it's another question. // Air turbulence here creates both audible & inaudible sound with a pulsating low frequency noise. ETSU doesn't allow for low frequency noise to be considered when measuring total turbine noise, since it isn't thought to be a serious nuisance and is therefore discounted. However, a considerable amount of empirical research has been carried out in the last few years, in response to many neurological complaints from people living near wind farms. In 1996, when ETSU was designed to offset complaints, there was very limited knowledge about  the impact of low frequency sound, and turbines were much smaller. It is now found from evidence gathered globally that, in fact, LF noise can cause many neurological difficulties, such as insomnia, depression, migraine, vertigo and loss of concentration. This situation has been recognized by the prestigious British Medical Journal which calls for urgent independent research and the WHO which is concerned about human rights on this issue. Also,  I was particularly impressed by the work of Dr Amanda Harry, a neurological expert, who explained in depth the pathology of sound related illness. Equally worrying is the fact that low frequency sound can be heard over large distances and can penetrate house walls which raises even more serious issues about the ETSU process. In fact, some British researchers have labelled this process as "not fit for purpose". // To sum up then, I suggest that, given all the available evidence, it is unwise to accept assurances about sound levels and their impact on people's lives. So, this application should be turned down to ensure that the health of even more local residents isn't put at risk!