Lord proposes controversial 2km residential distance ruling on wind farms
Legislation that would ban wind farms from being built within two kilometres of residential buildings has been put forward by a hereditary peer.
Green power companies have described Lord Reay's Wind Turbines (Minimum Distances from Residential Premises) Bill as being "without merit".
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Matt Partridge, development director of Cornwal Light and Power (CLP) , which owns the wind farm at Goonhilly in West Cornwall, said the bill would see the UK fall further behind in trying to meet its renewable energy targets.
"There is absolutely no justification for the bill," he said. "It would massively curtail the area of land available for on-shore wind power.
"We are behind targets for renewable energy. If we stop building it would make meeting the targets impossible."
The bill sets a gradient of distances from which wind farms would have to be built, dependent on their height.
The tallest, greater than 100 metres in height would be barred from being built within 2,000m of residential areas, falling to 1,500m for those between 50 and 100m in height and 1,000m for those under 50m. However, the restrictions would be lifted if every homeowner within the proscribed area agreed to it being built closer.
Hugh William Mackay is the 14th Lord Reay. He is a former Member of the European Parliament and also served in junior positions in the Conservative administrations of Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
He is still a member of the House of Lords as one of the 90 elected hereditary peers allowed to remain after the passing of the House of Lords Act of 1999.
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by David, Reay, Caithness, Scotland
Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:40PM
“I completely agree with Lord Reay's recommendations. Safety and ill-health effects of wind turbines to those living closely are overlooked by developers and by governments keen to secure renewable generation targets. This is a sensible recommendation and in line with many European countries and also with Scottish guidance. I can only hope that if passed the policy becomes mandatory across the UK and not just in England and Wales. And also to apply to wind turbine developments which have been approved but not yet built. We have an extremely controversially approved windfarm at Baillie near Reay which will have 130m turbines 400m from peoples homes. With few exceptions the mass of locals - 100 homes within the 2km distance - objected, as did the local councillors. One paid civil servant overturned this ruling which means that many now cannot sell their homes and will be doomed to misery for at least the 25 years approved for the turbines. Only those financially backing the development will gain in any way from it - and they live in Norway.”
by David, Reay, Caithness, Scotland
Thursday, August 12 2010, 10:39PM
“I completely agree with Lord Reay's recommendations. Safety and ill-health effects of wind turbines to those living closely are overlooked by developers and by governments keen to secure renewable generation targets. This is a sensible recommendation and in line with many European countries and also with Scottish guidance. I can only hope that if passed the policy becomes mandatory across the UK and not just in England and Wales. And also to apply to wind turbine developments which have been approved but not yet built. We have an extremely controversially approved windfarm at Baillie near Reay which will have 130m turbines 400m from peoples homes. With few exceptions the mass of locals - 100 homes within the 2km distance - objected, as did the local councillors. One paid civil servant overturned this ruling which means that many now cannot sell their homes and will be doomed to misery for at least the 25 years approved for the turbines. Only those financially backing the development will gain in any way from it - and they live in Norway.”
by Michael White, Brugge Flanders
Wednesday, August 11 2010, 4:04PM
“Why are these toy windmills to be 2 kms from houses? Surely speeds and distances in the UK are still measured in miles etc, a far more sensible system. I know we are much more versatile than our continental cousins and readily use their metrics when 'In Rome', so lets keep it that way.”
by David, St Austell
Monday, August 09 2010, 5:06PM
“I would not place too much credence in a statement from an heriditary peer. The sooner the House of Lords is abolished and replaced with a second elected house the better”
by Phillip Bratby, Devon
Monday, August 09 2010, 5:01PM
“This is a very sensible peace of legislation, designed to protect the rights of ordinary citizens to enjoy their environment in peace and quiet.
The wind industry and developers will moan and complain because they only care about getting hold of the enormous subsidies and making vast profits.
Meeting targets is just nonsense, as we are all aware. We need a secure energy supply and wind power, due to its intermittency and unpredictability, can never provide secure energy.”