My Story

Living near a Wind Farm

by... Tom Smith

My experience with wind turbines:

Nearest Wind Farm: Braich Ddu, near Corwen

Description: 3 x 90 m Nordex

Nearest Turbine: 900m

Since moving here 8 years ago (having been assured the turbines were ‘no bother’) I have

1 Diagnosed type 2 diabetic
2 Vestibular problems – no balance
3 Deaf in left ear
4 Neuropathy in both feet
5 Polyp removed from bowel
6 Frequent gastric bloating and cramps

None of which were evident before moving here except for deafness, which has worsened (as might be expected).

While I cannot prove these are wind farm related, I live with the symptoms daily.

We seldom hear turbine noise during the day, unless a gearbox is breaking down which seems frequent with typical one of the three down say 2 weeks out of 6 regularly. What we can hear is a low ‘swooshing’ sound when they are turning. I have been up to the turbines and can verify the noise originates there.

When the sound is present, it is clearly audible indoors and prevents or interrupts sleep. This in itself does not make for a happy household.

However, it’s fair to say I feel them more than I hear them with a pulsing in my sinuses that frequently results in severe headaches and nausea.

My ex wife suffered terrible migraines here that have all but abated since she moved away, and our immediate neighbours suffer migraines too.

There have also been bouts of severe depression with two of our neighbours closest to the turbines.

We had one male alpaca go rogue, which is not unheard of in those animals, but their paddock is closer, and turbine noise is often audible there.

In the time we have been here, we have noted a decline in the bird population, notably Curlews, Red Kites, and Common Buzzards. We see collisions and near misses with BOP on a monthly basis – which is remarkable as we don’t spend a lot of time looking at the blades.

We do not suffer blade flicker here but have been subjected to this with the moon during winter months when it is very low in the sky and the trees have no foliage. That is akin to a strobe light and it is not tolerable outdoors or in without black out curtains.

This seems to me, rather a lot to be coincidental.

I am not writing this with a view to blaming the turbines, nor seeking compensation, but I feel it is important to document experience and share it.

Tim Smith