Giant wind turbines leave angry farmers with a real headache
SHEEP farmers Hamish and Lesley Ritchie moved as far north as they could go in search of the quiet life.
But the couple claim their rural idyll has been shattered by the incessant ‘buzzing’ of 42 massive wind turbines.
They say that the neighbouring wind farms near Reay, Caithness, have forced them to take a daily dose of painkillers to cope with chronic headaches.
And when another 21 turbines are built nearby they are expecting more sleepless nights as they find the ‘whooshing’, along with a high-pitched ringing or buzzing noise, is intolerable.
Already the couple, who keep around 170 sheep on rough grazing at Achaguie Farm, Scotscalder, are within earshot of 21 turbines at Causeymire and 21 at Baillie, with 21 more approved for a site nearby at Limekiln.
Many experts claim wind turbines have little or no effect on health but Mrs Ritchie, 65, and her 68-yearold husband say they are badly affected by the noise.
‘The only way I can describe it is like when a fridge clicks in to bring it to temperature, and it’s constant,’ said Mrs Ritchie, who is recovering from lymphoid cancer. ‘The other thing we are getting is this very high-pitched buzzing. Everybody says it must be tinnitus, but if it was tinnitus it would be with you permanently – and it’s not.
‘I can go into Thurso and I don’t get it, or I can visit my son with no wind turbines around him, and I am perfectly fine.
‘In the evenings it’s really bad. My husband is worse than I am – he’s not sleeping with it very well. We both wake up in the morning with sore heads.
‘My husband is on co-codamol painkillers and he’s also on antidepressants. I’ve been taking paracetamol. It’s horrible. It was fine for the first few years that we moved up here, but the wind farms have expanded since then and now it’s unbearable.’
The Ritchies used to farm near Banff, but moved north to their home in Caithness seven years ago.
Mrs Ritchie said: ‘We weren’t bothered by the noise at first, but then they expanded the Causeymire wind farm and now it’s intolerable. We don’t particularly want to have to move again as we are pensioners.’
Noise consultant Dick Bowdler said most research shows there is no direct cause for illness from wind turbines.
He added: ‘There may be an indirect cause which is that people are annoyed by wind turbines and that causes stress, and that can bring on illness.
‘Quite a lot of people who believe there is a direct effect, but there is nothing to suggest that’s the case.’
Nick Sharpe of Scottish Renewables said: ‘We are not aware of any peer-reviewed, robust scientific evidence linking wind turbines with ill health.
‘Onshore wind farms must adhere to a strict set of criteria and developments will only get through the planning system if they meet strict international standards on noise.
‘Once projects are up and running they are monitored regularly to ensure that they are complying with their planning permission.’
Despite more than 400 local objections and Highland Council’s refusal to grant planning permission, the 21turbine scheme for the Limekiln estate was approved by Scottish ministers.
Further planning applications are in the pipeline.
‘In the evenings it’s really bad’