Public meeting in Auchtermuchty

A packed meeting held in the Victoria Hall in Auchtermuchty on Thursday 25th October heard two speakers relate their experience of living near to windfarms.

David Brearley from Cumbria and Jane Davies from Lincolnshire described how their lives had been disrupted by the noise from nearby turbines.

Jane's farmhouse is 900 metres from the nearest turbine and she related how she and her family were unable to work or sleep and her daughter was unable to study. Finally, in desperation, she and her family had abandoned their home and were now living in rented accommodation. Jane's house is farther from the windfarm than many houses in Auchtermuchty will be from the proposed windfarm at Rossie.

David described how he and his neighbours had unsuccessfully taken windfarm developers to court in an effort to stop the noise which was described as “like a clog in a washing machine”. He pointed out that many people believe that wind turbines are quiet. In fact they are quiet to observers standing close to them – most of the noise is generated at distances of several hundred metres.

David White, chairman of the Auchtermuchty Landscape and Environment Group which hosted the meeting appealed for support from the local community in stopping the proposed windfarm development and emphasised the group's need for financial support in order to employ the necessary experts and legal representation at the Public Inquiry in January.