Neighbour notification distances for wind turbine applications

What it asks

What the petitioner did first

1. 16 Apr 2013
   Public Petitions Committee

   New Petitions
   1 mention
2. 25 Jun 2013
   Public Petitions Committee

   Current Petitions
   1 mention
3. 10 Dec 2013
   Public Petitions Committee

   Current Petitions
   1 mention
4. 29 Jan 2014
   Local Government and Regeneration Committee

   Petition
   1 mention
5. 20 Aug 2014
   Local Government and Regeneration Committee

   Public Petition
   2 mentions

1. Scotland323 75.3%
2. United Kingdom86 20%
3. England13 3%
4. Wales3 0.7%
5. United States2 0.5%
6. Benin1 0.2%
7. Afghanistan1 0.2%

1. Stuart Young 12 Feb 2013
   It should not be permissible for a person to erect a wind turbine which is closer to a neighbouring property and, or, more visible and, or audible to the neighbouring property than to the applicant's own home.
2. David TOWNSEND 12 Feb 2013
   The same complaint was made against Moray Council and to the Ombudsman which but for the Burghead Community Council who notified the Cummingston community would have imposed seven turbines surrounding our beautiful coastal village.
3. Nigel Willis 12 Feb 2013
   The current 20mtrs notification distance is woefully inadequate for wind turbines or any other industrial development. The distance for notification needs to be increased to 2Km in my view
4. John Scott 12 Feb 2013
   A proposal which is long overdue. The effect of the structures has a radius measured in hundreds of metres (not counting the visual effect which is measured in kilometers). To have a statutory requirement for notification limited to 20 metres is absurdly inappropriuate. This requirement was formulated before the age of wind turbines and needs to be updated.
5. Vivienne Earl Infante 12 Feb 2013
   Although I live in the United States, Scotland, the land of my grandmother, is important to me as it is to numerous expat Scots here and around the world. The destruction of the magnificent scenery in Scotland will be a great loss to descendants of Scots worldwide who carry the love of that special land in their hearts.
6. ROB FALCONER 13 Feb 2013
   IN MY VIEW, ANYONE WITHIN 1.5 KILOMETRES SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OWING TO THE RISKS TO HEALTH FROM WIND TURBINE NOISE.
7. Douglas Reedman 13 Feb 2013
   The whole windfarm idea will prove a disaster for Scotland just like its SNP Government
8. K Muir 13 Feb 2013
   Why don't they site them on Arthurs' seat ,plenty of space up there,why is it always in rural areas,where the only income people have,is from tourism.they are going to decimate the countryside.
9. J Moodie 13 Feb 2013
   I think it's unfair to turn an 'anti-wind' campaigner into an 'anti-independence' campaigner. It is possible to be 'against' one and 'for' the other. Alex Samond is not the be all and end off of independence
   - just because he would lead us to independence does not mean he would stay in power.
10. George Esslemont 13 Feb 2013
    It is high time this total waste of public money was stopped concerning Turbines whether onshore or offshore they are all awaste of the general publics money and ignoring the laws of them should allow us to claim against those responsible for placing them especially near to peoples homes.
11. William Cochrane 13 Feb 2013
    It is a national scandal thst we are having to address this issue at all, wind turbines are blighting the unique landscape that we must treasure and protect.
12. Tas Gibson 13 Feb 2013
    ..."Democracy in UK is just an insidious form of Dictatorship with the richest being the Dictators!"
    As shown by Corporates and landowners and Governments to persons with properties close to windfarms..... "Take us to court they flaunt, knowing you need money and lots of it to succeed!
13. Tim Harrison 14 Feb 2013
    10 times the height of 140m is still less than the guideline of 2km separation from properties. Perhaps that would be a better limit then neighbour notification would be required whenever a developer breeches the minimum separation, reducing the chance of seeking planning "on the fly".
14. Douglas Moir 14 Feb 2013
    When will those responsible at council and government level wake up to the economics and impact that will have on consumers for over two Decades to come. What is currently there is irreversible and has to be paid for along with hundreds more turbines. A so called green policy now blood red in terms of the millions blowing out of Scotland on so called "free wind".
15. Peter Clapton 14 Feb 2013
    20 metres is ridiculous when applied to wind turbines. It should be anyone within sight of a windfarm or whose view of the countryside is seriously affected.
16. sarah clapton 14 Feb 2013
    i have heard that my house will be impacted
    - I have no idea what to do and also our water supplly comes from Sleuteuch wood which will be trashed in the scheme of things
17. Jim Swift 14 Feb 2013
    Apart from the subsidies that will drive us all into penury and be the root cause of the biggest transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich in history, windfarms are great. I would not want to live next to one with all the attendant risks to health and well-being that appear to be emerging we should want fair warning if one was proposed. I think this peition seeks common sense. However, the proliferation of windmills is testament to the obvious lack of abundance thereof.
18. J Foster 16 Feb 2013
    The full impacts of turbines on residents has not been fully explored. Shadow flicker is very disturbing both to mental and general health- the implications have not been fully investigated and are of great concern. That policy is worked to accept development such as this as a quick cash grab is ridiculous. The impact on residents is horrific. The locality is rich in many resources which are relied upon, and would be impacted heavily as a result of the development. Surely the current prolific numbers of turbines in the area is sufficient, and if investment was given to the grid to accept what they can generate, no further would be required. There are many other negative impacts that arise from such development, the loss of peat bog, giving rise to increased water levels and ground saturation, the loss of wildlife and their habitat. Once the land is gone, it cannot be replaced or restored.
19. Mrs. V.C.K. Metcalfe 16 Feb 2013
    Anyone who has questions about the validity of claims being made by the EU, UK Governments and wind industry in respect of the renewable energy policy currently being imposed, should look at the Complaint now lodged and under consideration by the UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) Aarhus Convention Compliance Committee under ACCC.C.2012.68. A great deal of valuable information will be found about which all MSP's should be aware and taking due note.
20. Sarah Davis 16 Feb 2013
    Noise from wind turbines creates a nuisance, which in some cases can cause sleep deprivation and in severe cases impacts on health. The greater the distance from a home, the lesser the impact.
21. George Herraghty 16 Feb 2013
    The Waubra Foundation insists on a 10 Kilometer distance from any large turbine!
22. Mrs Sandra Reid 17 Feb 2013
    They spoil our countryside, they disturb wildlife, they cause disruption with the noise, and the glistening of light off their blades cause distraction to people living near to them.
23. Christine martin 17 Feb 2013
    I have had first hand experience of not receiving a neighbour notification due to the fact that I'm over 20 metres away. The farmer next to me has just got planning permission to build 2 wind turbines 500 metres from my front door. My house featured in his plans, measurements from my door were clearly visible, but yet no on had the common decency to inform me. When I did find our about the application, the date for making a representation had passed. I did however make one as did my neighbours (they didn't know either!) unfortunately though, because I had missed the deadline date, mine or their comments weren't included in the report. The whole process is flawed. One has to wonder whether it's set up like this to ensure minimal representation???
24. S 17 Feb 2013
    It wouldn't even be so bad if the 20m started from the boundary of the property owned by the applicant or developer, but when it relates exclusively to the base it means neighbours can be within the topple distance of the turbine yet not notified of the application.
    
    All residents within the area impacted should be notified. According to independent research from Waubra, residents up to 40km from a turbine can be affected by symptoms of Wind Turbine Syndrome. Properties several miles from turbines can be impacted by flash from turbine blades which can have consequences for epileptics and migraine sufferers, or even those who have never previously suffered these symptoms.
    
    It is time the Government put Health and Safety ahead of money making schemes and started building SUSTAINABLE rather than merely RENEWABLE generators.
25. Duncan Tannahill 17 Feb 2013
    This petition addresses one of the key issues with wind farm development and if the petition changes legislation then there will be a degree of balance in favour of the local resident which has to be welcomed.
26. Andrew Kidd 17 Feb 2013
    Wind Turbines should not be sited next to dwelling houses when they will cause disruption to their inhabitants.
27. Andrew Shiells 17 Feb 2013
    This is absolutely criminal and typical of the SNP. It happened to us last year. Please see saynotowindturbines.com and sign our petition. Thanks.
28. Peter Sheal 17 Feb 2013
    The economic benefits of these imported wind turbines are unproven. As well as paying for this industrialisation of the countryside, we'll probably have to pay for their decommisioning.
29. Michael Taylor 18 Feb 2013
    Neighbour notification is vital. My neighbour has lost some £0.35m on her property because a farmer put up a turbine about 150 metres tall without saying.
30. Ken Hood 18 Feb 2013
    Lets also call for a no developments to be sited a minimum of 2km distance from property. Sauchen against WindTurbines
31. Alexander Lough 19 Feb 2013
    We who live in the East Lammermuirs have enough as it is,what with the turbines and a massive landfill site thats only half a mile from our village INNERWICK.
    Then we have the cement works destroying the land along the coast from Whitesands to the DRYBURN near Skateraw.
    We were never consulted about these plans,there was no consideration or openness,all done by stealth and circumvention and corruption.
32. George Matthews 20 Feb 2013
    All the people that can see the wind farm should be notified
33. Mrs. Jane McCaig 20 Feb 2013
    I object to the proliferation of wind farms and ind turbines in Scotland
34. Neil Torrance 20 Feb 2013
    Developers encourage applicants not to inform neighbours and submit proposals during the holidays. This leads to a lot of bad feeling in the affected communities. Proposals that do not include consultation with immediate neighbours should be thrown out immediately. This would end such practice immediately.
35. Ian Miller 23 Feb 2013
    Windfarms look revolting and when seen in the distance they resemble untidy scrapyards.
36. Graham Lang 25 Feb 2013
    The present neighbout notification process descriminates against rural dwellers like me who do not scrutinise the public notices in the local paper or have any access to planning application up dates. It is not fit for purpose and should be changed in lines with the petitioners recommendation
37. Marion Lang 25 Feb 2013
    The present neighbour notification process is grossly unfair on country dwellers and those on the edge of communities who need to know about applications that would impact on their amenity but only find out when the development is permitted and commenced
38. Emma Stewart 27 Feb 2013
    I think neighbout notification should also be given if your boundary abuts the land boundary that the wind turbine site is located on regardless of the distance from the actual turbine(s) site.
39. Kenneth Hood 28 Feb 2013
    Proper public consultation should be mandatory of all wind turbine applications or a minimum 2km from property recommendation made mandatory!
40. lily Findlay 8 Mar 2013
    I am a neighbour that has not been notified about a proposed wind farm as our property is out with the 20m limit,although the proposed wind farm will have a direct effect on our quality of life, noise pollution, visual impact and shadow flicker. We only found out because someone in another part of the town told us.
41. douglas taylor 9 Mar 2013
    in scotland, its all about alec salmonds ego. turbines cause utter misery to many, and the fiscal model does not stand scrutiny.
42. Margaret Kelly 10 Mar 2013
    I object to wind turbines being placed within our area.
43. Susan Howard 10 Mar 2013
    Wind turbines are appearing all over the country and are making many peoples lives a misery. How long is it going to be before the Scottish Government realise they are destroying our countryside and peoples lives?
44. Edward Baxter 10 Mar 2013
    I support Emma Stewart's sensible suggestion.
45. IAN ROBERT ALEXANDER 10 Mar 2013
    20 METRES IS NOT A REASONABLE DISTANCE.
46. Brian Orme 11 Mar 2013
    The way the Scottish Government is railroading through their green energy policy (i.e. wind farms) is destroying Scotlands landscapes and will not meet the country's energy needs, a more balanced approach is needed for energy generation. The current neighbour notification distance for wind turbines needs to be increased substantially to enable locals to be informed of proposed schemes and give them the chance to object if they want to.