Turbines could cause TV interfence, claim

Plans for nine wind turbines near Beccles could cause television interference in nearly 6,000 homes, claim objectors to the proposals.

Renewable-energy company Stamford Renewables has submitted plans to build three groups of three turbines at Devonshire Farm and Granary Farm, both in Ringsfield, and Laurels Farm in Barsham.

A campaign group called Halt has been formed to fight the plans.

A Halt spokesman said it had fed map co-ordinates for the turbines supplied by Mike Stamford, chief executive of Stamford Renewables, into a windfarm assessment service offered by the BBC and Ofcom.

The service, which is provided for the guidance of windfarm developers, provides an estimate of the population that may suffer TV interference from a windfarm.

The spokesman said the service predicted that 5,707 homes could be affected. "This will impact on virtually all residents in the area who receive terrestrial TV signals. It should be thoroughly investigated, as recommended by the BBC and Ofcom," said the spokesman.

Mr Stamford said that if there were any problems they would be put right: "The potential for adverse effects is limited to terrestrial televisions only.

"A lot of people do not use terrestrial television any more and the switchover from analogue to digital takes place in 2011.

"There is a possibility that if you have got an old-fashioned analogue television you will get some adverse effect on your reception, but I have made it clear to the planners that if this happens to anyone we will buy a set-top box for them.

"We are committed to making sure nobody loses out because the turbines are being put up."

Waveney District Council has extended the consultation period for the proposed development until the end of this month.

The council is provisionally targeting the applications for consideration at its development control meeting in April.