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Public Attitudes to Windfarms: A Survey of Local Residents in Scotland

chapter FOUR impact of the windfarm

4.1 The fact that it is extremely rare for people to spontaneously mention their local windfarm as either a positive or negative aspect of their area suggests that, for most at least, it is not foremost in their minds when thinking of, and describing, the area.

4.2 Once reminded of the fact that there is a windfarm nearby, and asked what they think it's impact has been, most say that it has had neither a positive nor negative effect (51%), or say that they do not know what impact it has had (23%). Of those that do pass comment one way or the other, three times as many say that they feel the windfarm has had a positive impact (20%) as say that they think it has been negative (7%) (see chart 2).

Chart 2: Overall impact of the windfarm ⁵

4.3 Views are very similar in the inner (0-5 km) and middle (5-10 km) zones, with those in the outer zone particularly likely to have a neutral stance. Those living in the inner and middle zones are more likely to be positive about the impact of the windfarm (see table 3).

Table 3: Impact of the windfarm and distance from the site

4.4 The populations living close to windfarms are relatively stable, with just three per cent having moved into their homes within the last two years - by contrast, the Scottish average is 20% ⁶. As a consequence, most people lived in their property before the local windfarm was developed. There is, however, little difference in the views of those who lived there prior to the development, and those who have moved in since. One in five of both groups (21% and 18% respectively) feel that the windfarm has had a positive impact, while 7% and 4% respectively feel that it has been negative (see table 4).

Table 4: Impact of the windfarm and length of residence

4.5 Differences in opinion across age groups are marginal, with older people slightly more likely to hold a negative view of the impact of the local windfarm than younger people (see table 5).

Table 5: Impact of the windfarm and age of respondent

4.6 Few can see their local windfarm from their homes, other than those who live within the 0-5 km zone. It is more common for people to see the turbines when they are travelling on local or major roads or, to a lesser extent, when they are walking in the countryside. Indeed, one in five say that they 'never' see the turbines at the windfarm site (see table 6) ⁸.

Table 6: Visibility of the turbines and distance from the windfarm

4.7 People who feel that their local windfarm has had a generally positive impact on the area are more likely to say that they can see the turbines in a variety of circumstances than are those who consider the windfarm to have had a negative impact (see table 7). Thus, it would appear, the situations in which the turbines can be seen have no directly negative correlation with attitudes to windfarms.

Table 7: Visibility of the turbines at the windfarm and impression of their impact

4.8 Another way of measuring the visibility of the turbines is to ask how frequently people can see them, rather than in what circumstances. Of those who can see them at least sometimes (that is, excluding the 20% who say they can never see them), one in eight (12%) say that they can see them all the time, and 58% say they can see them at all in the 0-5 km zone. A further quarter say thats they can frequently see the turbines. Most, however, say that they can only occasionally see the turbines (63% of those who can ever see them)

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