Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Aileen Jackson submission of 3 August 2021
PE1864/QQQQ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
It is my view that RenewableUK, the voice of the wind and solar power industry, and the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) are keen to demonstrate that there is overwhelming public support for the development of onshore and offshore windfarms, despite increasingly vocal protests from host communities and from environmentalists concerned for the damage caused to peat lands, birds and other wildlife.
So how can RenewableUK justify announcements like this, from a press release in May: ‘Support for building onshore wind farms remains overwhelmingly high at 70 per cent – with levels of support exactly the same among people who live within five miles of a windfarm as those living elsewhere’?
I am concerned that the answer may be in the use of statistics and framing the questions to give the pollsters the answers they want, or by asking the opinions of only a select group of the public. This approach means that there is a real risk that the views of those forced to accept industrial wind turbines as their near neighbours are being obscured.
Since 2013, when most turbines were under 150m, the Scottish Government has recognised that there are adverse environmental impacts of windfarms on communities, and recommends a minimum separation distance of 2km. If the adverse impacts of wind turbines are recognised to affect rural host communities rather than urban communities, it would seem sensible to weight the respondents in a poll of opinions regarding onshore windfarms in favour of rural residents. And if the majority of turbines in the UK are in Scotland, (where there are more turbines than in the three other countries in the UK added together) https://www.renewableuk.com/page/UKWEDSearch wouldn’t it be logical that the majority of respondents to a poll on wind turbines should be from Scotland?
The latest RenewableUK poll conducted by YouGov claimed to show ‘overwhelming support’ for onshore windfarms, but the questions did not define either turbine heights or how many turbines comprise a windfarm. There would obviously be a big difference in the acceptability of a 20m turbine and a 260m turbine at the bottom of your garden. Of the 1,700 respondents to the poll, only 7 per cent (119) were from Scotland. That is 0.002 per cent of the Scottish population. Of those 119, only 38 (32 per cent) replied that they lived within five miles of a windfarm. That is 0.0007 per cent of the Scottish population. Choosing so few respondents from the UK area with the most onshore turbines in a poll seeking to determine public opinion on the issue makes the results inherently unreliable.
In contrast, there were 192 respondents from London. Why ask Londoners their opinion of living within five miles of an onshore turbine when there are none anywhere near? They can have no idea of the adverse impacts of noise, disruption to water supplies, overwhelming visual intrusion and impacts on property prices caused by living near a large windfarm.
Even the paltry 38 Scottish rural respondents were not within 2 km, but 8 km (5 miles) of a windfarm. This distance is likely to include many rural residents who receive ‘community benefit’ from the windfarm developer, but are too far away to suffer any direct adverse impact. The survey should have focused on rural residents within 2 to 3 km of a windfarm likely to suffer adverse impact.
I reiterate my concern that RenewableUK has interpreted results from a statistically skewed section of the UK public to show their interpretation of ‘overwhelming’ support for onshore windfarms. As the mouthpiece of the renewable industry, it might be expected that any poll would be biased in favour of commercial concerns. It is more worrying that results from this and similarly unreliable and biased polls are widely quoted by mainstream media such as the BBC and used by the Government to underpin policy, justifying the push for further expansion of windfarms in the name of reducing carbon emissions, regardless of impacts on hapless rural residents and environmental damage.
The most recent BEIS poll of public attitudes in March 2021 is equally concerning. Of the 267 respondents from Scotland (6.6 per cent of the sample) only 47 were rural respondents - more likely to know what it is like to live next to a windfarm of industrial proportions. BEIS poll results suggested that 83 per cent of the Scottish populace are in support of renewables providing our electricity, but even the BEIS acknowledged that the numbers were too small to be statistically significant. (Personal communication with Scotland Against Spin).
It’s high time that we had a proper survey of public opinion in Scotland, where the majority of all UK on shore turbines are located and where planning permission is granted by Scottish Ministers against the will of local people for some of the tallest onshore turbines in the world. It’s time that the people of rural Scotland are not just regarded as collateral damage by both the Scottish and UK Governments.
Related correspondences
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Scottish Government submission of 1 June 2021
PE1864/A - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Alec Kidd submission of 2 June 2021
PE1864/B - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Christopher Shaw submission of 3 June 2021
PE1864/C - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Helen Braynis submission of 3 June 2021
PE1864/D - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Elaine Nisbet submission of 5 June 2021
PE1864/E - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Victoria Boyle submission of 3 June 2021
PE1864/F - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Iain Milligan submission of 4 June 2021
PE1864/G - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
John Logan submission of 4 June 2021
PE1864/H - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Janet and Michael Holley submission of 4 June 2021
PE1864/I - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Tracey Smith submission of 4 June 2021
PE1864/J - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Matthew Reiss submission of 4 June 2021
PE1864/K - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Jerry Mulders submission of 4 June 2021
PE1864/L - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
William Jackson submission of 5 June 2021
PE1864/M - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Caithness West Community Council submission of 7 June 2021
PE1864/N - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
J W Ponton submission of 7 June 2021
PE1864/O - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
George Herraghty submission of 7 June 2021
PE1864/P - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Ian Miller submission of 7 June 2021
PE1864/Q - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Greta Roberts submission of 7 June 2021
PE1864/R - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Sue Hall submission of 8 June 2021
PE1864/S - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
June and Ed Hall submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864/T - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Alison Johnston submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864/U - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Andrew Chadderton submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864/V - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
James Tanner submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864/W - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Amanda Rofe submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864/X - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Howard and Grace Goldstein submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864/Y - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Trevor Procter submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864/Z - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Petitioner submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864/AA - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Moraig Lyall submission of 9 June 2021
PE1864_BB - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Angus Farquhar submission of 10 June 2021
PE1864/CC - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Brian Johnstone submission of 10 June 2021
PE1864/DD - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Elaine Procter submission of 10 June 2021
PE1864/EE - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Hazel Appleton submission of 10 June 2021
PE1864_FF - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Peter Dunn submission of 10 June 2021
PE1864_GG - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
John Edmondson submission of 10 June 2021
PE1864/HH - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Petitioner submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/II - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Rosemary Milne submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/JJ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Elinor Ross submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/KK - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Alan Cairns submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/LL - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Celia Hobbs submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/MM - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Rachel Connor submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/NN - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Brian Bell submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/OO - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Ronald and Irene Bain submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/PP - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Chris Fawcett submission of 11 June 2021
PE1864/QQ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Jane Dickson submission of 12 June 2021
PE1864/RR - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
John Chapman submission of 12 June 2021
PE1864/SS - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Fiona Ainslie submission of 12 June 2021
PE1864/TT - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Alison Chapman submission of 12 June 2021
PE1864/UU - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Rowland Shallcross submission of 12 June 2021
PE1864/VV - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
David Scott submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/WW - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Patricia Brander submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/XX - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Alison and Paul Garrod submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/YY - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
James Taylor submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/ZZ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Bob Chicken submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/AAA - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Simon Arnold submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/BBB - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Norrie McLeod submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/CCC - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Lorna McClean submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/DDD - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Lyndsey Ward submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/EEE - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Dr Guy Vernham submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/FFF - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Elizabeth and Ian Richardson submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/GGG - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Frank Hay submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/HHH - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Mary Young submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/III - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Chris Walsh submission of 13 June 2021
PE1864/JJJ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Kathrin Haltiner submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/KKK - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Stephen Mardon submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/LLL - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Mrs S McKenzie submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/MMM - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Moscow and Waterside Community Council submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/NNN - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Margaret Addo submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/OOO - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
John Scott submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/PPP - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Jim Pratt submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/QQQ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
H Menhinick on behalf of Dailly Community Council submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/RRR - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Gladys Speirs submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/SSS - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Gilian Macpherson submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/TTT - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Fiona Clubb submission of 14 June 2021
PE1864/UUU - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
David Slater submission of 15 June 2021
PE1864/VVV - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Geraldine Hamilton submission of 16 June 2021
PE1864/WWW - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Celia Strain submission of 16 June 2021
PE1864/XXX - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Alistair Buckoke submission of 17 June 2021
PE1864/YYY - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Bruce Hobbs submission of 17 June 2021
PE1864/ZZZ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Joy Kendall submission of 22 June 2021
PE1864/AAAA - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Charmaine Dean and Stewart Baillie submission of 23 June 2021
PE1864/BBBB - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Tim Harrison submission of 23 June 2021
PE1864/CCCC - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Marion Lang submission of 27 June 2021
PE1864/DDDD - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Nigel A R Willis submission of 28 June 2021
PE1864/EEEE - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Keith and Margaret Mycock submission of 26 July 2021
PE1864/FFFF - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Sandra Cunliffe submission of 26 July 2021
PE1864/GGGG - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Roger Hissett submission of 26 July 2021
PE1864/HHHH - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Brian Wade submission of 26 July 2021
PE1864/IIII - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Graham Lang submission of 27 July 2021
PE1864/JJJJ - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Mr and Mrs Spratling submission of 28 July 2021
PE1864/KKKK - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Peter A Kew submission of 28 July 2021
PE1864/LLLL - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Ian Dippie submission of 28 July 2021
PE1864/MMMM - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Kim Terry submission of 3 August 2021
PE1864/NNNN - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Marion Milliner submission of 3 August 2021
PE1864/OOOO - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Joyce Miller submission of 3 August 2021
PE1864/PPPP - Increase the ability of communities to influence planning decisions for onshore windfarms