Mark Macaskill wrote in the Sunday Times today :

“THE  march of wind turbines across Scotland is set to be legally challenged on the grounds that Scottish ministers have failed to protect people who live in their shadow.

A new pressure group, supported by Struan Stevenson, the former member of the European parliament, has been set up to back legal action against wind farms, including those in the planning stages, that it believes pose a threat to public health.

 

Stevenson, a critic of wind farms who represented Scotland in the European Parliament, believes dozens of schemes have been approved in breach of the Åarhus Convention, a  piece of European law stipulating that the public has the right to live in a healthy environment…Sunday Times read the full article here…….

 

Also today, Paula Murray wrote in the Sunday Express:

The Sunday Express can reveal that the Scottish Government has recently commissioned a study into the potential ill effects of turbines at 10 sites across the country.

More than 33,500 families live within two miles of these 10 wind farms – which represent just a fraction of the 2,300 turbines – already built north of the Border.

Hundreds of residents are now being asked to report back to Holyrood ministers about the visual impacts, and effects of noise and shadow flickers from nearby wind farms.

Campaigners fear that many people do not realise they are suffering from ailments brought on by infrasound – noise at such a low frequency that it cannot be heard but can be felt.

One such person is Andrew Vivers, an ex-Army captain who has suffered from headaches, dizziness, tinnitus, raised blood pressure and disturbed sleep since Ark Hill wind farm was built near his home in Glamis, Angus…read the full article here……

 

A letter (7th August)in the Carrick Gazette in Ayrshire:

Last week you reported the consent of Dersalloch windfarm, quietly announced on the same day the Commonwealth Games opened, by Fergus Ewing minister for Energy and Tourism. Also you reported the delight of some members of community councils in North Carrick at a partnership with local estates and a developer at the prospect of a community wind farm at Knowside Hill. The previous week you reported how Girvan was to benefit from the revenue from Tralorg wind farm through a deal struck between PNE Wind UK and community councils. What is not reported are the stressful effects these windfarms will bring to the communities living closest to them.

Continuing to deny peer reviewed evidence, emerging on a daily basis, that windturbines do damage the health of those forced to live in close proximity (because their homes become unsellable) is untenable.  We have examples of those suffering locally similar, if not identical to the unfortunate family in Donegal, whose house is now vibrating due to proximity of wind turbines. Results are judged likely to be catastrophic for these families and others over the long term with vibro acoustic disease likely as well as the other sleep disturbance and wind turbine syndrome symptoms.  Health professionals and acousticians currently unsure or even unaware of the existence of vibro-acoustic disease and its permanent effects, need to understand this. So too do government authorities imposing a policy where the checks and balances have not been completed.

Our farming communities are being targeted as never before without being made aware of any dis-benefits or reports. Animal studies & reports now exist showing alarming effects.  Schools are welcoming developers to speak about the advantages of the technology. The Scottish and UK government and the  wind industry has not conducted the crucial independent human impact research which shows that these turbines are not responsible for the sleep disturbance and health problems being experienced here and all around the world, yet they persist in dismissing peer reviewed professional reports.  Just last week the German authorities announced that it is now clear that there is a very real issue with low frequency sound and recognise that they both need to update their regulations and complete more research. In respect of wind power, information is now available to show why and how the precautionary principle is missing, and the subsequent risks involved. Those living close to Arecleoch and Mark Hill may have noticed an improvement in their health whilst these turbines are switched off during the summer months to allow upgrades to transmission infrastructure.