Noise

[hall]

I have just been refused planning permission for a trubine because, to quote, "insufficient information had been submitted to allow a full assessment of the impact of noise likely to be generated from the wind turbine on the occupiers of the neighbouring dwellinghouses"

The application was for a 6m high 300w grid connect turbine, the site is in the countryside  and my nearest neighbours are between 45 and 50 metre s from the proposed turbine. While there appears to be no data on the noise generated by the turbine, at these distances I felt there would be no problem and so did the planning officers with whom I had pre-application discussions.

I don't know how I am going to proceed with this at the moment but any actual data on the noise produced by the 300w turbine either with standard or low noise blades would be useful. The local authority is Bath and North East Somerset Council and they are either being obstructive or not prepared to make a sensible judgement about noise. If they ask for a noise impact assessment report, that is likely to cost more than the bloody turbine.

If the data isn't available, I suggest Navitron get some measurements of noise of the turbine because without these it is very difficult to deal with councils like mine.

[JohnA]

Looking at the BWEA site http://www.bwea.com/ref/noise.html the recommendation is that the turbine noise is no more than 5dB(A) above the average background level, which in a countryside location is likely to be around 30dB(A). If Navitron or another forum member could obtain a measurement that suggests there wouldn't be a problem, you would have a reasonable case against this judgement.

Sadly, one has to jump through needless hoops sometimes, but don't give up. If you do think the turbine won't be a problem the best way to deal with a local 'job's-worth' is to take your complaint to the next level, even perhaps to the Dept. of Environment. In the current green climate people will help with a project like this if they can. Stay positive, and good luck!

John

[Ivan]

The environment agency will have to ban the wind then, in windy weather, I have measured wind noise levels of over 60dBA!!

[vicar]

The environment agency will have to ban the wind then, in windy weather, I have measured wind noise levels of over 60dBA!!

For God's sake, Ivan, don't put ideas in their heads.

Cheers

Vicar

[JohnA]

Ivan,

You've measured 60dB(A) but at what distance? According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_noise, if you double the distance the noise is reduced by 6dB(A), but I don't know if that would help Hall's situation. If the noise is mostly from the baldes, perhaps he could think about a larger turbine with slower rotation speed - is that a reasonable thing to suggest?

Does anyone else have any comparative numbers? Sorry, I seem to be generating more questions than answers today!

John

[Ivan]

sorry, maybe I wasn't clear. I've measured the noise level of wind without any turbine at all - 60dB. You can't really measure wind noise at a distance! But I was highlighting the fact that when you measure turbine noise, you are always adding it to a backround wind noise which can be quite loud in itself


ivan

[AndySV1K]

and that background noise can change several times a second, its really a contentious issue this.

I think your best bet is to find someone with the same turbine and take some example measurements of that then offer these to the council.

The issue of noise is a difficult one to judge, there are so many variables its hard to give clear results and answers for anything.

Andy.

[martin]

one could be pragmatic, and point to those poor idiots who've obtained consent for chocolate teapots without any real assessment of noise............ if you were to point out that sound diminishes considerably with distance - teapots, at over 3 times the capacity of yours, shown under 10' from bedroom widows..............

[peter999]

Hall

I think that you will find that your local planning office have taken the easy escape route!! they almost certainly do not know how to handle your application and are worried about setting a presadent for further applications.

When I applied for my planning permission i hit my local planning office with so much paper work, including lots of reports from the BWEA about noise and public opion as well as a copy of PPS22.

They granted me full planning aproval with NO conditions at all (To the best of my know I am one of the first if not the first application ot erect a wind turbine under the Tendering District Council)

The only thing that was said to me was that if the neighbours complained about the noise i could be force to shut the turbine down at night or possibly disassemble it all together.

So I would go back to your planning office with lots of information and the option that once it was erected and IF it caused a noise problem you would shut it down at night or disassemble it! atl east you would have a chance to install it ( I am not rushing to put mine up, I am putting it up in stages and letting the neighbours get used to it before adding another bit and so on untill it full assembled and ready to spin!!)

good luck peter

[AndySV1K]

one could be pragmatic, and point to those poor idiots who've obtained consent for chocolate teapots without any real assessment of noise............ if you were to point out that sound diminishes considerably with distance - teapots, at over 3 times the capacity of yours, shown under 10' from bedroom widows..............

But if you wanted to picky about it, you could argue that what doesnt move doesnt make noise!    10' is just fine in that respect.

Andy.

[Roger Willott]

I would have just put the thing up and let people complain. You could then apply for retrospective planning permission. This authority seems to be swimming against the flow. The sea levels are rising and they don't allow a 2kw.

Whatever next.

My MP had a reply from the relevant department that the Climate Change and Suatainable Energy Act 2006 proposals will bear fruit in the autumn of this year. See s10 and s11. It is proposed that small wind turbines will be viewed in a similar light to sat dishes and will be permitted development.

Are the objections just from the planner or neighbours?

Your planner may not be aware of this Act and the implications.

Roger Willott

[Roger Willott]

Start getting political. Go to the local authority website and download the names of all the councillors. Make a data base. Compose a letter to the councillors pointing out that they should be supporting you. Point out that the Greenland icecap is melting now! You will see very little payback from this enterprise etc. Polite, but forceful, I would suggest.

I have written to Councillor Gerry Curran enclosing a copy of the Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Act 2006. I have pointed out that they should be supporting you.

Above all, do not give up. This is much more than just you and a wind turbine. It really is a matter of changing minds.

Anybody reading this, please write to :

Cllr Gerry Curran,
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Guildhall,
High Street,
Bath BA1 5AW

I think he is the Cabinet Member for planning. Be polite, but give 'em hell.

You can email him too, but you'll have to go to the website

 http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/bathnes

Roger W

[Ivan]

ask if they plan to continue to enforce the planning regs when we are immersed in 20ft of water!

[shambles]

I live in somerset. I was going to write something quite negative about the local council (who I have had lots of dealings with in the past), but I don't suppose I need to, do I?

The comment about 20ft of water is spot on. Much of somerset is only a few inches above the current sea level...

[Ivan]

I guess property prices in Somerset will plummet over the next few years, if this picture is anything to go by.....

http://flood.firetree.net/?ll=51.2894,-2.7850&z=7&m=14