FEARS: Concerns that the turbine wind near Whites Lane, Kessingland, could present a road safety risk have been dismissed by Suffolk County Council.

Kessingland wind turbine poses risk to A12 traffic claim made

Anthony Carroll Tuesday, March 5, 2013
6:30 AM

Fears have been raised that one of the wind turbines at Kessingland could distract motorists on the A12.

The Kessingland Wind Turbine Pressure Group (KWTPG) has made a video showing how shadows cast by the blades of the 125m turbine near the Whites Lane roundabout fall onto passing drivers’ windscreens .

Its members claim this could lead to a serious accident.

However, Suffolk County Council says it has it has investigated the so-called “shadow flicker” and there is no implications for road safety, while the turbines’ operator Triodos Renewables also insists there is no danger.

The concerns raised by KWTPG are the latest step in its determined campaign to get the two turbines switched off as it claims they are blighting people’s lives by creating noise and shadow flicker as they turn.

KWTPG member Jean Purkis, 76, who lives in Lloyds Avenue, claims the flicker caused by the turbine nearly caused her to have a crash with another vehicle by the roundabout.

She said: “The shadows are a distraction to drivers, especially to lorry drivers as they are higher up in their cabins. Something needs to be done as I fear an accident will happen and then who will be to blame? I can imagine lawyers getting involved.”

Richard Dexter, 66, of Black Street, Gisleham, is also a member of KWTPG. He said: “It’s a weird distraction. You can see a large black line approaching you as you drive. I can understand people who may not know about the turbines suddenly thinking ‘what on earth is that?’ and losing ‘concentration. Eventually an accident will occur.”

A copy of the video produced by KWTPG has been viewed by county council officials.

A council spokesman said: “We have looked at the situation and, while we acknowledge that the turbines do cast a shadow in certain lights, we do not consider there to be any danger to drivers.”

Matthew Clayton, managing director of Triodos Renewables, said the turbine complied with all planning procedures and no issues had been raised in relation to its proximity to the A12.

Mr Clayton said that in regard to the general issue of shadow flicker affecting homes in Kessingland and Gisleham, Triodos had turned off the turbines for the equivalent of 80 hours so far to mitigate the problem.

However, KWTPG still wants the turbines switched off due to the shadow flicker and noise, which has led to some people installing double glazing or moving their bedroom to a quieter part of their home.

The turbines have been generating power since June 2011, having won planning consent despite fierce opposition. They are said to be capable of producing enough power for up to 3,000 homes.

Last August, Waveney District Council concluded that one of the turbines caused a statutory nuisance to one property.

Mrs Purkis said: “We are all suffering. All we get for those two monsters is aggravation.”

39 comments

Yes Daisy Roots-20 of the erected on the Kessingland Skyline by 2020 and 50 by 2050-they simply do benefit our Village in some way-its not easy to explain but they do-its like having oil wells on your doorstep-look what they do to benefit places.

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Colin James Watling

Sunday, March 10, 2013
The UK cannot compete with cheap imported coal from Germany,poland and russia.

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MickB1

Friday, March 8, 2013
Too expensive to open coal mines, neither can they re-open them, Coal mining is History in this country. No one wants coal its a dirty fuel green energy is what is wanted.

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D.Simpson

Friday, March 8, 2013
Good afternoon D.Simpson, we should not be closing coal fired power stations we should be building more along with opening new coal mines. We have the technology we have the raw material it is only common sense to use it.

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John Bridge

Friday, March 8, 2013
John Bridge – have you been asleep for the past 20 years or don’t you take any notice of what is happening around us in the UK. So we have Coal coming out of our ears then....WRONG....NOW this is correct around 31% of electric comes from coal power station but a third of these are closing by 2016 making way for renewable energy. BTW there are only 4 deep coal mines left now, Daw Mill Colliery closed today. Is this your Future....NO.

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D.Simpson

Friday, March 8, 2013
D Simpson, you say that `renewable energy is the future`, not quite correct. Renewable energy will supply a certain amount of {unreliable} power but without gas and nuclear we are stuffed. We have coal coming out of our ears, the only reason we are not utilising it fully is because of greenies, these dreamers are holding Britain back bigtime.

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John Bridge

Friday, March 8, 2013
If the shadows and flicker caused by these blades going round is considered dangerous does that mean helicopters can never fly when it is sunny? Maybe the pilots should turn them big blades off that go round and round to make it safer!! Grasping at straws is an understatement.

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Mr T

Thursday, March 7, 2013
What a feeble reason for opposing the scheme.

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blue tractor

Thursday, March 7, 2013
You could argue that about anything by a roadside, like signs saying, "cafe open 1 mile" or "toilets." Perhaps there should be a ban on attractive young ladies walking alongside roads. Digressing slightly, I don't find wind turbines a blot on the landscape, but that's as maybe.

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oultonbroadman

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
One of the best things we ever did was move from Kessingland. The noise and the shadow flicker blighted our lives for a short time, but even that was too long. We now have undisturbed nights sleep away from the constant whooshing from the turbines. We are able to enjoy our conservatory all day long without experiencing shadow flicker....bliss.. We had to lower the price of our house to sell, but it was worth every penny to get away. Those of you who are moaning about the turbines...do something positive about it, don't just sit there waiting for something to happen, or before you know it more turbines will be erected without proper consultation just like the two up already!

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Emanic

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
They have blocked me three time today.

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MickB1

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
WHY IS EDP BLOCKING MY COMMENTS....WHAT IS WRONG WITH FREEDOM OF SPEECH

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D.Simpson

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Daisy roots…I for one would not mind a business near me..where would YOU suggest them being the Moon? Of course Businesses are gaining financially believe it or not that’s the reason why businesses are in business. I think this is just another excuse to try to stir up some trouble,(any excuse) sounds like sour grapes to me. BTW renewable energy is the future learn to live with it...!

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D.Simpson

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Would the poster who states that the turbines have benefited Kessingland like to elaborate and explain how? has the parish council got a backhander from the operators? It is puzzling how a community gets to benefit directly from a turbine owned by a private company unless they are shareholders.

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Daisy Roots

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Surely it all comes down to the justice or injustice of one group of people being inconvenienced so that another, usually a company, may make a financial gain? If any poster here can hold their hand up and say they do not mind a new business on their doorstep creating noise, visual disturbance and possible devaluation of their assets with no accompanying offer of compensation then they might relieve some of the people at places like Kessingland and near Market Deeping ( where there has been a protracted dispute about the noise and vibration from turbines ) by making an offer for their houses. All too often we see the normal planning process blighting the lives of the little man, but renewable energy has enjoyed a specially easy ride which may yet turn out to be unjustified.

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Daisy Roots

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
There are a lot of reports of Rabbits,Deer,Pigeons and Pheasants causing accidents does this mean we should stop wildlife near our roads.

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D.Simpson

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I can’t find any reports of any accidents caused by any wind turbine anywhere, so what does this tell you...!

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D.Simpson

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Yesterday and today I have been searching for RTC's due to wind turbines and have found none at all. NOT ONE. Unless theses NIMBY’S can provide evidence otherwise this claim is unsubstantiated and is probably just sour grapes that the fight to stop them being built in the first place was lost some years ago. Move on and get a life.

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MickB1

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Lets face it Tea and Biccys-as far as their concerned there could be a 65 car and lorry, bus pile up tomorrow with blood and guts strewn everywhere becuse of these wind turbines-that's their kind of mentality I can't quite get my head around and I don't think anyone else could either.

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Colin James Watling

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I've spotted a slight flaw in the NIMBYS argument that the turbines will cause accidents. They've been there and working for two years.... and no one has had an accident because of them. Doesn't that kind of suggest that they won't cause an accident?

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Tea&Biscuits

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
NickL, a strobe with a frequency of about 8Hz can induce epileptic fits and has been attributed to accidents in France where trees are planted beside the road at regular intervals. At the right speed they can cause the sunlight to flicker at this frequency. The idea that a turbine blade or three can have the same effect is nonsense and if you think a windscreen is a narrow aperture are you sure you're not driving a tank?

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Thoreauwasright

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but, when vinnie.p believes people must leave their homes he is taking his opinions too far. As far as Ollie is concerned, these are not the same as Gulliver, because these actually work, hence the problems.

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Anthony Gower

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Well the way I see it is these wind turbines are now entering there second year and personally I have noticed the benefits and rewards they have given our small Village-I hope to see more of them raised along the Village Skyline in the years ahead and to see 20 of them erected by 2020 and 50 of them by 2050 within the Boundaries of Kessingland will be remarkable and a great vast achievement for a Village so small and unknown as ours.

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Colin James Watling

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
@ vinny.p - Everyone is entitled to their comments without being called stupid thank you. The turbines at Swaffham are a totally different kettle of fish to those at Kessingland. As you drive south down the A12, between the roundabouts, your attention is drawn to the turbine as it is directly in front of you, which is not the case at Swaffham. The shadow can be significant and all the elements are there for someone to have a serious accident one of these days. The capabilities of drivers on the roads these days varies greatly.Then perhaps the planners may have a change of mind.

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BG

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
do you think that spelling mistake .... Bollards .. :)

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Hartell

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I live in Kessingland I can see them, I can hear them and sometimes I work with the flicker and I love them.

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Hartell

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Can't believe the ignorance of people posting here. Have a look on You Tube at some of the many videos which show what turbine blade shadow flicker is like. Viewed through a narrow opening such as a window or windscreen it is like looking into a strobe light. Indeed it can induce epileptic attacks in individuals with epilepsy. It bears no comparison with shadows from static objects such as trees!

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NickL

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
NIMBY ALERT! Grumpy old people complaining for the sake of it. I have lived in the shadows of Gulliver, of course there is 'slight' noise and a 'small' amount of flicker but you know exactly what it is and get on with your life. Within 2 days id forgotten it was even there its at such a low level. Is anyone who lives near Gulliver complaining? No! Funny, same turbine, same noise levels, same flicker and a lot of houses are closer than those in kessingland. The grossly over exaggerated claims made just to make the kessingland one sound worse than it is are laughable! Car crashes? What excuse will be next? Oh the local residents cant fly their kites next to it as it could be dangerous - best tear it down! And before the NIMBYS comment about coming and seeing for myself, i have and its no more noisy, flickery or dangerous than standing next to Gulliver. If you don't like it then il gladly come and live in your house. The world changes, you can either accept the changes and go with it or stay stuck in the past - your choice!

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ollie

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Just a comment on the quote: “It’s a weird distraction. You can see a large black line approaching you as you drive. I can understand people who may not know about the turbines suddenly thinking ‘what on earth is that?’ From this are we expected to beleive that some one could see a shadow on the road but not the 125 meter high turbine that made it and then be confused enough to lose control of their vehicle? seems unlikely to me.

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Goldie

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I am fully in favour of renewable energy sources and wind turbines are fine in the right place. It is not right when they are placed near to people's homes as they do present a shadow and noise nuisance. As for VinnyP's comments I can only assume he has hearing and vision problems. If he hasn't, can I suggest he goes and sits near one of these turbines, Gulliver would be fine, and then leave another, this time well reasoned comment. By the way I do not leave in Kessingland or near any other turbine.

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Grumpygramp

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Sorry to disagree with some of the comments, including Vinny-p,s. We lived in Whites lane and experienced the noise and the shadow flicker from the onset. The turbines weren't going to move - so we decided to put our house up for sale and move ourselves. There are turbines where we live now, but they are on farmland - at least a mile from any community. The birds, chickens and traffic don't bother me ............ and neither does that awful "whooshing" that was a constant nightmare.

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Kristiangarrett

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Oh my god these people are insane. There is nothing wrong with where the turbine is and if the locals dont like it move. If the excuse is my house wont sell because of the turbine give me your house i would be more than happy to live near it and no i am not a fan of turbines either. As for BG your comment is stupid have you ever driven out of the town look at that monster beside the A47 at swaffam, indeed its so bad they have built 2 more beside the A47. Stop trying to come up with excuses and get over it for gods sake !!!

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vinny.p

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
If you are distracted by a shadow, then you should NOT be driving. I see the main protagonist is 76. Perhaps it's time she was retested...

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Lord Elf

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Utter rubbish....! what excuse will they come up with next..? BG (NIMBY)

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MickB1

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Biggest load of Bollards I have ever heard. Trees,Passing lorriescars and windscreen wipers cause a flicker does that mean we have to stop using them as well? These will cause an accident....! My Ar**e.

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D.Simpson

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The presence of this turbine is a distraction. The sweep of the shadow is the problem. . I suppose we will have to wait for an accident to occur before anything will be done. Whoever thought that building a turbine next to a main road and close to a roundabout was a good idea has a lot to answer for.

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BG

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
So all the wind turbines all over the country near roads including the one in north Lowestoft that is near roads is an issue? as Keith stated there is more effect from trees that are even closer to the road that blow around in the wind. I don't beleave in wind turbines there not efficent and look horriable (tidal power is where its at), but trying to use this as an excuse will get no where as there are wind turbines all over the coutnry near roads, junctions and roundabouts.

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SIRWolfe

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
What absolute rubbish. The NIMBY Luddites are really clutching at straws now - they must be desperate as all their other arguments have been refuted.

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Thoreauwasright

Tuesday, March 5, 2013
A desperate attempt by the NIMBYs to have them moved to YOUR back yard. What about the impact of the shadows thrown by road side trees? Should we pull them all down?

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KeithS

Tuesday, March 5, 2013