Chamber and committees

Rosemary Milne submission of 11 June 2021

PE1864/JJ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms

As wind turbine neighbours we are fully aware of the considerable discomfort suffered by us, caused by the noise, and initially flicker, from three industrially sized 80 m turbines situated in extreme proximity to my home (the closest only 420m away).

We were never informed about these turbines, which should never have been consented. They would not have been if Aberdeenshire Council had followed its own guidelines. Under English Law the council would not have been able to make such a destructive planning decision. Following complaints about noise nuisance caused by the turbines the Environmental Health Office (EHO) also deemed there was a noise nuisance and served a Statutory Noise Nuisance Notice in 2013. For unknown reasons there was no action taken to pursue this by the council. This inaction caused us to take a Private Noise Nuisance Case in 2017 which thankfully was upheld in and a court order was issued ordering mitigation of the noise. Unfortunately, the only relief was that we did not have to pay the court fees. The stress this has placed on my family has been extreme. The noise nuisance continues.

10 years from commissioning the turbines the EHO continues to receive noise and flicker complaints from different properties. If local councils wish to avoid such complaints and subsequent unnecessary expense, they should cease giving permission for such large industrial machines to be built in close proximity to their residents. The cost of investigating and taking the ensuing cases to court is far greater than any fee received for the planning application.

People are suffering needlessly. This is why we support PE01864.