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Islington Tribune - by JO HARMAN
Published: 17 October 2008

‘Green’ turbine puts wind up flat-dwellers

NEIGHBOURS angry at their flats being used for a wind turbine “experiment” claim it is causing noise, vibration and disruption to TV signals.
They fear that gyrations from the turbine could damage Braunton Mansions, a Victorian building in Rosebery Avenue.
One resident, Delia Sawkins, said: “People who live at the top have been caused a lot of distress. They have complained of noise from the turbine gyrating and howling down the chimney when it’s windy. On the lower floor it has disrupted the TV aerial and I now get poor signal. The landlord, St Pancras Housing, categorically deny a link between the turbine and the TV signal but I have lived here for 40 years without any problems before.
“There is a feeling among residents that a lot of these initiatives are done to be seen to be ‘green’ rather than having a realistic effect on the reduction of energy costs.”
Residents in nearby Barnstable and Bideford Mansions, where there are plans to install wind turbines, fear they will face similar problems.
One resident, who did not wish to be named, said: “Our main concern is the structure of the building. They’re running the risk of damaging it. If you say anything against something labeled ‘green’ you’re a heretic. But our homes are being used for an experiment.”
A report to Islington Council’s planning committee on the turbines conceded that the main aim was to provide wind and energy data for future decision-making by the Building Research Establishment and other bodies.
St Pancras Housing has an acoustic consultant on call to deal with problems. A spokesman said there had been no complaints about noise at Braunton Mansions since August. “The turbines are the result of exhaustive research,” he said. “They are small relative to other residential turbines in the area and the model is one of the quietest on the market.”

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