A conflict between people’s fiercely-defended right to privacy and the need to reach the government’s renewable energy targets is evident in a dispute between a wind farm company and three Norfolk land owners.

Impact on People UK

Ministers said they want to build a new generation of 12 new nuclear reactors to ensure that people can "turn on the kettle" and to help "keep the lights on". The Department for Energy and Climate Change said that Britain would need to build more than 30,000 onshore wind turbines to produce the same amount of energy, seven times the number currently in operation.

Impact on People UK

The rush to develop on-shore wind farms is “over” and has damaged the renewable energy agenda, the Energy and Climate Change Minister said. Mr Barker promised that future wind farms would be developed off-shore, the Mail on Sunday reported. “We put certain projects in the wrong place,” he said.

Impact on Landscape Impact on People UK

The Leighs did not, however, protest the original application. “In those days, nobody had any knowledge at all of turbines,” explains Mrs Leigh, now 66. “It was a new technology, so we had no idea what they would be like. We lived quiet lives up here and we weren’t into objecting to anything.” They realised their mistake as soon as the blades began to turn. “They dominated the outlook from our home. Then there was the noise: whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. That was constant.

Impact on People UK

“We appreciate that wind farms have a place, but the fact that there are seven wind farm applications a day in Scotland proves this is a gravy train threatening to career out of control.” Some local authorities have previously voiced concern over the number of wind farm submissions from energy firms. Many are large-scale, requiring significant work, and placing a weighty burden on planning chiefs.

Impact on Landscape Impact on People UK

Mr Standley, who stands to benefit financially from the Government’s renewable energy scheme, has been quoted claiming he will receive £80,000 a year from the 250kW wind turbine - but he told the EADT the cash is by no means guaranteed, and that he won’t see a return on his £500,000 investment for at least 10 years. Other residents remain angered ..."bill-payers are being forced to subsidise schemes which “rape the countryside”.

Impact on Landscape Impact on People UK

The turbine nearest the town, on land owned by the borough council just in Babergh district, has been dropped from the plans by Partnerships for Renewables (PfR). However the company still plans to go ahead with a second turbine at Pannington Hall. “It will still be very intrusive on the landscape – people won’t want to use the footpaths and bridleways around there.”

Impact on Landscape Impact on People UK

There is enough credible evidence and enough of an opposition to end a policy of support for industrial wind energy. Yet still we see wind farms popping up all around the country. Isn't it about time that we looked at all the evidence cumulatively? Isn't it about time that we just chalked it up as a loss and tried something else?

Impact on People Energy Policy Impact on Landscape UK

The creation of a wind farm involved the excavation and movement of soil, the laying of tracks and roads for machinery and sometimes, as at Whitelee, forest felling to create space for turbines. “All these activities can affect the pathways by which rain falling on the site drains away and makes its way into rivers and lochs and can affect the ecology of those bodies of water and drinking water.”

Pollution Impact on People UK

"Last year, we took the decision not to pursue an appeal against a planning application that was refused by Craven District Council for two new wind turbines to replace the existing four turbines at Chelker Reservoir. Further to this, we informed Craven District Council a number of months ago of our intention to remove the existing turbines."

Impact on People UK

Serious concerns have been raised in a report about a huge wind farm off the north Devon coast. A county council report says the project would have negative impacts on the landscape and might not have any economic benefits for north Devon. It would be among the UK's biggest wind farms, with up to 240 turbines.

Impact on People Impact on Landscape UK

Villagers living near Maryport are struggling to get TV and radio reception - and they claim wind farms are to blame. Allerdale council has launched an investigation and pledged to work with the energy companies to resolve the issue.

Impact on People UK

"Alex Salmond is driving an aggressive green agenda like an express train across Scotland, bludgeoning anyone who gets in the way as being a Luddite and anti-green. No wind farm developer has ever had to explain the benefits of wind. Evidence tells us that wind power performance shows not only no reduction in carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions, but also the very reverse."

Impact on People Energy Policy UK

West Devon Borough Council sought the advice of independent experts to assess the merits of a noise condition imposed upon the Den Brook Wind Farm, but the findings did not fall in favour of the applicants, Renewable Energy Systems Ltd (RES) who propose to build the wind farm in the Den Brook valley between Bow, Spreyton and North Tawton.

Noise Impact on People UK

Mr Paterson's report is about the impact of all renewable-energy sources on the countryside and on the rural economy. "There has been a back-and-forth with DECC but we are doing this report," a source said. "We want some hard and fast evidence about the effect of renewables on rural communities. That is well within our portfolio."

Impact on People Impact on Landscape UK

The Conservatives are warning that the Scottish Government's green energy drive has seen ministers "bully councils into accepting the advances" of developers. Critics say many wind farm companies are lodging "speculative" applications, as planning fees for turbines in Scotland are considerably cheaper than those in England.

Impact on People Zoning/Planning UK

Concerned villagers are fighting to stop a large wind turbine from being built on farmland close to their homes, claiming it will dominate the skyline and be the second highest structure in Suffolk. Mid Suffolk District Council has received an application to install a single 250kW wind turbine at Yew Tree Farm in Laxfield, near Framlingham. The structure would have a hub height of 30m, with an overall tip height of 45m.

Impact on People UK

In evidence submitted to the inquiry, landscape architects acting on behalf of the company say Mr and Mrs Shotton's Moor Edge Cottage, next to the A697, has direct views towards the proposed turbines. It also says further tree planting near the boundary of their garden, or closer to the house, would help to screen views within about eight years.

Impact on Views Impact on People UK

Commenting on the convoy of 40.2 metre long blades, Gwen Crew, chairperson of Denholm Community Council, added: "We should have been told about this when the application was submitted. People have to be made aware of this, as it will have quite an effect on local traffic. We are awaiting further information."

Impact on People Impact on Landscape UK

Dr Taylor uses "annoyance" in its medical term. She states, "Annoyance is recognised as a critical health effect, and is associated in some people with stress, sleep disturbance and interference with daily living." She says symptoms such as, "...headache, irritability, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, dizziness, anxiety, and sleep disturbance, are often described in relation to annoyance".

Noise Impact on People UK