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Tilting at windmills:
A Health Impact Assessment of
the Lewis Wind farm proposals
Julie Yates – Public Health Nurse Consultant
Lucy Macleod – Public Health Specialist
Socio-economic & demographic issues
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High levels deprivation
Low levels economic development
Poor health indicators (men)
Declining employment opportunities
Out migration
Aging population
Culture
The Lewis Proposals
• Lewis Wind Power
– 234 turbines
– 140m / 100m to hub
• Eisgein Bhein Mhor
– 133 turbines
– 120m / 80m to hub
• Pairc
– ? 80+ turbines
What would this involve?
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LWP
167km roads
9 electrical substations
Control building
9 Monitoring masts
210 pylons (80m)
5 Quarries
8 temporary compounds
4 concrete batching plants
• 4,000,000 cubic metres of
rock
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Bhein Mhor
77km roads
1 substation
1 Control building
5 Monitoring masts
? Pylons
22 Quarries
10 temporary compounds
10 batching plants
• 150,000 additional two-way
road movements
• Vehicles over 50m in length
Limitations of Review
• Time
• No studies found on developments of similar
scale in terms of:
– Turbine size
– Turbine numbers
– Proximity to houses
– Proximity to other similar sized developments
Physical Effects
Mental Health Impacts
Social/Wellbeing Effects
Physical Impacts
• Noise
• Shadow Flicker
– may be a problem to some individuals
– can be avoided by careful siting
Advised to check LWP modelling and request
similar from Beinn Mhor
Physical Impacts
• Power cables
– Many assertions of health effects
– Most unresearched or unsubstantiated
– Some correlation with childhood leukaemia
– Research continuing on this and Melatonin
– No irrefutable proof either way
Advise that Comhairle may wish to take more
expert advice. Cables and pylons should be as far
from houses as possible. Not less than 100m.
Physical Effects
• Safety
– Accidents
– Road safety (construction and operation)
– Blade breakage, icing, fires
Advised that more information is required on
operational safety. Plans should be checked
through with Police/road safety, fire and NHS.
May require a condition relating to operation sub
zero.
Mental Health Impacts
• GP Studies – sleep disturbance, stress,
depression
• Property value – RICS survey
• Construction and transportation phase
• Quality of life
Advised consultation with affected communities.
Possibility of financial package. Consult young
people.
Social / Wellbeing Effects
• Housing and Public Health
– Potentially significant numbers of transient
workers
– Potential impact on homelessness services
– Integration with local community
– Alcohol, drugs and sexual health
Advised involvement of ADSAT, Police and local
communities in housing decisions.
Social/Wellbeing Effects
• Repopulation and Depopulation
• Economic Impacts on individual and
community health and wellbeing
– Inaccuracy in LWP assessment
Advised:
• Exit strategy to counter post-contract decline.
• Need for workplace health improvement and
occupational health.
• Monitor and manage impacts on other sectors
• Look at integration issues
• Consult on plans for handling community benefit
Conclusions
Direct Health Impacts
• No direct benefits to health from the
proposals
• Negative physical health impacts should be
controllable through planning conditions,
but uncertainty over effect of high voltage
power cables
Conclusions
Indirect
• A net increase in sustainable long term
employment is possible but not certain
• The developments could lead to repopulation
or depopulation
• The main potential gain is from community
benefit if it can be handled in an inclusive way
to promote community regeneration
• Housing is a major issue
Final Assessment
These developments have the potential to
be of benefit to community health and
wellbeing, they also have the potential to
cause significant negative health impacts.
The community and broader public health
impacts will require ongoing assessment
and management
Final Recommendation
That should one or both developments go
ahead, the mechanisms are put in place for an
ongoing Health Impact Assessment:
• To provide early warning of problems which can be
managed, reduced or avoided
• To provide information which could be used in future
applications in the Western Isles
• To provide information which could be used
elsewhere either in specific relation to wind farms or to
provide information on the impacts of industrial
developments in rural areas
• To develop a marketable expertise.
What happened next…..
• Stornoway Gazette
• “Wind farms fan the flames of racist unrest in the
isles….” Observer, May 2005
• Commission for Racial Equality
• Internal review & investigation
What did we learn?
• Health Impact Assessment methodology provided a useful,
systematic and rigorous framework for comprehensive analysis
of complex issues
• We were naïve !
• Recognise the dangers of inexperience…..
• Do not underestimate the interest & role of the media
• Consider the benefits of a fully participatory assessment process
• Remember - in small communities debates rapidly become
personalised.
• Urge caution. Start small & uncontroversial, get partners used to
the methodology & its benefits when there is little at stake…...
and make more of an impact later!