Wind Turbine experiences 2012 survey results Introduction The Government’s commitment to renewable energy has meant a large increase in the number of wind farms and domestic turbines over the last few years. In 1995, in response to the Government seeking guidance, the BHS recommended that there should be a distance of at least 200m between a turbine and the nearest off-road equestrian route, which was supported by the Countryside Commission at the time. However, this was based on turbine heights of less than 60 metres and by 1998 there were already applications for turbines of 100m, so the BHS urged Government to revise its guidance to an appropriate formula of three times the height of the turbine with an absolute minimum of 200 metres. Although the three times height was accepted by the Countryside Agency, the Government’s guidance was not revised. The Agency went further and proposed that four times the height be recommended for national trails and promoted equestrian routes on the basis that these are likely to be used by horses unfamiliar with turbines. Government guidance up to July 2013 said: “The British Horse Society ... has suggested a 200 metre exclusion zone around bridle paths to avoid wind turbines frightening horses. Whilst this could be deemed desirable, it is not a statutory requirement ...”. In many cases, this separation distance was adopted as reasonable; however, the latest Government guidance does not specifically refer to horses and says: "Other than when dealing with set back distances for safety, distance of itself does not necessarily determine whether the impact of a proposal is unacceptable." The latest BHS guidance, revised as a result of this survey, gives a number of factors which increase the impact of wind turbines on equestrian access and which should increase the set back distance. Concerns are frequently voiced by equestrians that wind turbines pose a threat to the safety of horses, their riders, drivers or handlers. It is argued that with training any horse will become habituated to turbines, but reports indicated that this is not always the case. In the absence of formal trials, there is little evidence available to decision-makers on wind energy projects about their effect on horses, so the BHS conducted a survey to gather information and to guide the need for further research. The aim of the survey was to gather feedback from equestrians across a 1 Planning for Renewable Energy A Companion Guide to NPPF (para 56) BHS Survey Wind Turbines range of circumstances to indicate the extent of any hazard posed by turbines and to show areas that would benefit from further investigation. The results would be used in responding to proposed turbine developments as well as informing BHS policies and guidance to developers. The Survey From 1 May to 23 June 2012, the BHS ran an online survey of equestrians’ experience with wind turbines. It was promoted in various BHS newsletters, on its website and by some of its regional groups, as well as being covered extensively in national publications as a result of a press release. Questions were phrased to avoid attempts to mislead the survey results by false responses and, on the whole, this appears to have been achieved. The data contains some incomplete responses. Results Have you ridden near or among wind turbines? Answer Options Response Response Percent Count Yes 55.9% 415 No 44.1% 328 answered question 743 skipped question 2 How many turbines were there? Answer Options Response Response Percent Count One 22.9% 86 One to five 34.8% 131 Five to ten 19.9% 75 More than ten 22.3% 84 answered question 376 skipped question 369 How high were they? Answer Options Response Response Percent Count Less than 50m 28.8% 107 (high voltage 'super' pylons are about 55m) BHS Survey Wind Turbines 50m to 100m 50.3% 187 more than 100m 21.0% 78 answered question 372 skipped question 373 How close was your route to the base of the closest turbine? Answer Options Response Response Percent Count 20m 29.0% 108 50m 25.7% 96 100m 17.4% 65 200m 14.7% 55 500m 9.7% 36 more 3.5% 13 Please explain if you think it would be helpful 65 answered question 373 skipped question 372 Responses received: Windmill turning, and closer than 20m, about 10m Schooling area only 10m from 5kw turbine My horse’s field is 200m from nearest turbine, house 400m Horse was spooked by moving turbines at a distance of approximately 500m Height and distance from the bridleway is approx Horse was in same pasture as the turbine and was not disturbed at all by it during the week she stayed there This turbine is very close to a road I ride along The route went through the middle of the wind farm I was participating in an endurance ride and the route went along a track through the middle of the turbines in the Lammermuir hills. It was also a very windy day. I was concerned because a turbine in that area had exploded and the blades shattered a few months before! The turbines are in a neighbour’s field There is a path round the turbine site I have a wind farm of six turbines less than 1km, but more than 500m, from my house and every day they are turning they terrify my poor horse and it breaks my heart – it’s all very well saying they will get used to them – why should they have to – horses are designed to flee from threatening movement and that’s just what she wants to do Probably between 100 and 200 There is one at the other side of my family’s farm. Less than 20m I was based at Deli Farm, Delabole – one of the first wind farms in Cornwall – where their 800 acres was available for riding BHS Survey Wind Turbines The wind turbine is alongside a bridle path – there is a wide gap in the hedge and you are VERY close to it Very close as we rode through, so less than 20m There was plenty of space between us and the wind turbines I was closer at times We can ride on tracks through the wind turbine site The closest (largest) turbine is nearest the road; corner of Long Lane/Short Lane, Stannington, Sheffield 6; although I've never measured it, it seems almost on top of you as you ride past; several people have commented that if it ever toppled, it appears to be likely to reach the roadside, although I understood planning permission stipulates safer margins. This is the Llandinam wind farm with bridleways going through it Such a long time ago, memory is not clear! This was where the bridleway entered the outer edges of the wind complex Route is a road that passes the field where turbines are I rode past/through a wind farm in Lancashire in 2000, I cannot remember their exact height and distance from the bridleway I rode in between them to get on to the beach Several turbines at this wind farm are less than 50m from a public highway Terrible experience, horse spooked all over the place . never again Out draghunting with the field when the turbines started up suddenly; this turbine was the outermost but still threw the whole field into a panic I only like to pass them if there is hardly any wind due to the noise Less than 10 metres, more like 5 I live just over one mile from the Llandinum wind farm in mid-Wales and had to ride past these turbines on a bridleway that I used to regularly use I am not sure how tall they were, (large) and we got right up to them Horse lives in field right next to it Nasty things, disturb the horses The turbines are close to a wood which I ride in, but are also clearly visible from one of the bridleways outside the wood Five miles away Pleasure ride, went past wind turbines This was with horses that were used to turbines One original turbine approx 50m high and 50m from route, then another 100m high approx 100m from route This was about 18 months ago on the Trans Wales Trail run by the Turner family at Cwmfforest Riding Centre near Brecon; we saw the windmills several times on this day gradually getting closer until we were on a track running past the site International endurance ride – my horse had never been near turbines before in his life It is in an adjacent field to my livery yard These turbines were on the Pennine Bridleway, that is the Mary Towneley Loop near Burnley; I have difficulty remembering how near they were so I have guessed! BHS Survey Wind Turbines This b/w section passed what felt like underneath them, terrible noise – my mare ran to the other side of field Rode through a wind farm on an endurance ride Actually less than 20m Route was on common, not b-way Was using wind farm tracks Public road adjacent to wind farm; there are bridleways closer but the horses would not go near Two turbines approx 10m from public highway We go right below it Warcock Hill near Bacup on pleasure ride Rode close enough to touch it The turbines are on farm land adjacent to the forest I normally ride on; they dominate the area as they are 125m The wind turbines are in fields without bridleways, but close to the road On a house next to the yard gate Some are within 20m of small country lanes; one in particular is within 20m of bridleway Less than 20m, in fact I can stand right under it Turbines were next to the road and the car park where we unloaded On a path that ran through the turbines, approx 300m from some of the turbines I think, maybe less.