ADVICE ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ASKED TO HAVE WIND TURBINE NOISE TESTING EQUIPMENT ON YOUR PROPERTY

Do not sign an non-disclosure agreement. The purpose of getting the noise and wind data is to check whether the analysis has been done correctly and if there are any anomalies in the data. If you found that to be the case then you would certainly want to disclose it to the planners or to a Public Inquiry. Developers sometimes claim that the wind speeds on a particular site are commercially confidential. There might be an argument that long term wind speeds a year or more might be confidential but not wind speeds made during a few weeks of noise measurement which are just a snapshot. The issue really is one of transparency. It is that, as local residents, we are entitled to know how developers have come to their conclusions and possibly question them. That is what the planning process is about. Signing an NDA would negate that. One should be aware of the English Judicial Review (Hulme, [2008] EWHC 637 (Admin)) where Mitting J said: 7. The developer refused to produce the raw data for a variety of reasons, which for myself I find thoroughly unconvincing. First, commercial confidentiality; it is difficult to see how there could conceivably be any commercial confidentiality in the matter of wind noise anywhere, let alone on this site. Secondly, that Mr Hulme, unaided, would not understand them; that may well be so, but he had indicated a willingness to obtain expert advice to permit him to do so. Thirdly, that the developer was unwilling to spend professional time and cost in assisting Mr Hulme to understand the raw data; that too was not a sensible argument, because all that he sought was the data itself and not any explanation of it. 8. The developer's attitude to the disclosure of this information, as can readily be understood, might excite suspicion as to their motive in insisting that it would not be disclosed. However, it is not merely as a matter of principle that we require to see the raw data. This data is crucial to protecting our amenity should a development go ahead because it will be subject to noise conditions that are framed USING THE BACKGROUND NOISE LEVELS as measured. If these background noise levels are flawed then the conditions will not do their job and that is why we want to check them. Make sure that the noise monitoring equipment is sited in the open and away from a wall, bush, tree, stream or anything which causes increased ambient noise. Photograph said noise monitoring equipment. This helps you to know and demonstrate if equipment has been moved. Check that the noise monitoring equipment has not been moved when you haven't been in. Register in a diary any unusual noise activity, for instance when they come to inspect noise monitoring equipment; any shoots in the area - that sort of thing. (Without becoming paranoid) Also record any particularly windy/rainy days

Ask for a wind rose - this latter lets developers know that you know what you're talking about