An ill wind for turbine protestors

Adam Hewitt • Published 28 Jan 2010 17:00 0 Comments

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PEOPLE in Lower Earley need to "wake up" to the reality of five wind turbines on their doorstep, according to a newly-formed campaign group.

Plans for the windfarm at the Rushy Mead site south of the M4 have been on the cards for years but developer Partnership for Renewables (PfR) is now potentially just months away from submitting a planning application, prompting concerned neighbours to act.

Householders Against Rushy Mead (Harm) has invited sleep scientist Dr Christopher Hanning to its public meeting next month.

Harm committee member Jan Heard, from Carters Hill, Arborfield, said: "People in Lower Earley dont realise how vulnerable they are. They're very close to the windfarm, as are people in Shinfield, and we're hoping more people from both places will join Harm when they hear more about the turbines and wake up to the threat they pose."

She also said Oxford Brookes University research for the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in 2007 showed that homes near turbines were between 35% and 54% lower in value than similar homes further away.

Reading University owns the land and PfR is nearly ready to apply for planning permission to start building the turbines. A temporary wind monitoring mast showed the turbines are viable and drop-in meetings have been held at Earley's Crescent Centre in Warbler Drive for people to see the plans and quiz the windfarm developers.

Tony Duffin from PfR said: "More than 2,000 well-located wind turbines operate around the UK without any problems with noise. We employ leading noise consultants to carry out assessments on all of our projects and will not submit an application for a project if it does not adhere to the established planning guidelines. Each noise assessment is site specific to ensure it accurately reflects the local wind regime, types of turbines proposed, terrain and existing background noise."

In a Parliamentary answer on January 14, energy minister David Kidney said the current noise limits on turbines offer "a reasonable degree of protection to windfarm neighbours".

Pfr's next Crescent Centre drop-in session is today (Thursday) from 11am-7pm. There is another at the same times on Thursday, March 25. For details visit www.rushy-mead.co.uk or call 0800 731 7395.

Harm's public meeting is on Tuesday, February 16, at 7.30pm at the Arborfield British Legion in Eversley Road. For details email wfarborfield@live.com or call 07593 955 377.

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