A row has flared between owners of a timber business and local residents over proposals to build two 67-metre high wind turbines in south east Cornwall.
As well as being in the timber trade, WH Bond and Sons Ltd based at South Bake Farm, Trerulefoot, near Saltash are involved in plant hire, civil engineering, landscaping, recycling and agriculture.
The company has submitted two applications to Cornwall Council to install the structures on two pieces of land.
Objectors say that up to 20 houses could be affected by the plans, if councillors wave the proposals through.
The first application is for a turbine at Wilton Farm, Trerulefoot.
It triggered 58 objections from local residents, with 15 in support.
And the second application would be to erect a turbine on land next to Bake Sawmills Bake Lane, Trerulefoot, sparking 20 objections and nine in favour.
Some residents said they were furious with the proposals because the turbines would be too close to their front doors.
Amanda Harry, 47, a GP and mother-of-two, who lives at Bake said that if built, the turbine would be less than 300 metres from her house. She said: “We’re really worried about the potential health risks.
“Some people who already live near turbines don’t appear to have any problems but others do.
“It’s like lung cancer. Some smokers never get the disease but others do, so the advice is to tell everyone not to smoke.
“The hum of the turbines can keep some people awake at night leading to health problems because of sleep deprivation.
“And research in America is now suggesting that even though you can’t hear the low frequency noise it could affect the inner ear and lead to problems with balance causing dizziness and headaches.”
Doug Clarke, 49, a married father-of-three, said the turbine would be around 400 metres away from his home.
He said: “The noise will keep us all awake at night. Sleep deprivation leads to bad health and I’m really worried about the effect on my children.
” It’s simply too close to a residential area and is totally inappropriate.
“It will ruin the landscape and we seriously doubt how green these turbines really are.
“Obviously when there’s no wind you get nothing out of them and they only work properly between 18- 22% of the time.” The company who would erect the turbines are Murex Energy Limited, based in Somerset.
Agents acting for WH Bond are Aardvark EM Limited based at Taunton.
Nick Leaney, director at Aardvark, said that WH Bond were “not immune” to feelings in the local community and were looking to use clean, green energy.
Mr Leaney said: “Noise from the turbines will be below the accepted threshold.
“The site is good because of the prevailing south west winds – the turbines would generate between 10-15% of the energy required to power the business.
He added: “We’ve been working on these proposals for the past 18 months and believe the sites are appropriate.”
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