We are extremely concerned over the safety issues with regard to the regularity of low flying aircraft in the proximity of the weather mast, let alone a wind turbine/s.
The Swere Valley is an area which is a designated low flying zone: that is one in which fixed wing aircraft are permitted to fly below 2000ft/610m from the ground and helicopters are permitted to fly below 500ft/152m from the ground.
We regularly see and hear aircraft, helicopters in particular, flying at speed and at very low levels both down and across the valley, day and night.
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) is the body that controls airspace and aircraft movements.
NATS have recently placed planning constraints on ALL properties in this area after they were advised of the possibility of a planning application for a wind turbine being submitted.
- This Military Chinook helicopter is flying down the Swere Valley at approx. 46 metres from the ground. The mast stands approx. 800 metres from here (on elevated ground).
NATS identify the following issues with wind turbines:
“Wind farms and single turbines can cause a number of problems on Air Traffic Radar Displays such as clutter, reduced sensitivity and overloading of processing functions. In addition, turbines can degrade the performance of voice communications facilities and en-route navigation aids. This can have an impact on the safety of the services provided to aircrafts by NATS.”
The NATS website provides self-assessment maps to identify areas which are sensitive to wind turbines. The link to a map identifying a turbine at only 40metres (current height of the mast) clearly shows the Swere Valley would be “in line of sight of between 1-19 surveillance radars”. http://www.nats.co.uk/nats-services/issues/windfarms/self-assessment-maps/
We are unable to influence the impact of low flying aircraft on the environment but we are passionate about publicising the very real risks of having a wind turbine/s in the Swere Valley.