The chair of Fairlie Community Council says she doesn’t care about the ‘community benefit’ from a proposed wind farm in the hills behind the village – and instead wants to know the impact the planned turbines will have on people’s health.

Rita Holmes claims to have suffered nausea and an inability to walk or speak when two giant test turbines were installed at Hunterston several years ago.

Ms Holmes believes that ‘infrasound’ from the turbines – sound waves below the lower limit of human audibility - was the cause of her problems.

She now says she’s worried that developer Galileo Green Energy’s plans for up to 13 turbines on a site behind West Kilbride, Dalry and Fairlie could end up having similar effects on her and others.

Ms Holmes claims she isn’t the only one to have been affected by ‘infrasound’ from the Hunterston turbines.

If permission is granted, Galileo’s turbines at its proposed Crosbie wind farm would be up to 200 metres tall.

The company says the project would be capable of generating more than 78 megawatts (MW) of "clean, green energy", enough to power up to 51,289 homes a year.

But in a letter to Galileo Ms Holmes says the company is not taking her concerns over the potential health impact seriously.

In the letter Ms Holmes said: “Why would anyone living here consider that any monetary compensation could make up for the damage that this inappropriately sited wind farm will wreak on our families` health and wellbeing?

Hunterston turbineHunterston turbine (Image: Newsquest)

“Galileo made a point of telling North Ayrshire Council that it should ignore infrasound low frequency noise. 

“Infrasound low frequency noise will be a relevant factor due to the size and output of the proposed wind turbines.”

The generating capacity of Galileo's proposed wind farm means that a decision on whether to grant permission will be made by Scottish ministers, not by North Ayrshire Council.

Academic and scientific research has so far failed to establish a conclusive link between wind farms and harmful effects such as those experienced by Ms Holmes.

But Ms Holmes pointed towards a study carried out in Finland which found that infrasound could have a ‘detrimental effect’ up to 15 kilometres away.

The study was carried out by the Finnish Association of Environmental Health in 2016.

However, other studies elsewhere have found no firm association between wind farm ‘infrasound’ and dizziness, nausea or problems such as walking and talking.

Ms Holmes said: “Galileo wants us to ignore the fact that 200-metre wind turbines have already caused us suffering here,as well as on Cumbrae and in Largs. 

“I suggest that Galileo needs to seriously consider and respond to the issues. 

“To do less would reaffirm our view that Galileo, as another wind farm developer looking to profit at the expense of our health, is insisting that current regulations, which it knows to be ineffective, are solely used. 

“Health has to be the priority, and this size and output of wind turbine should be nowhere near people, livestock or wildlife.”

The generating capacity of the proposed wind farm means that a decision on Galileo's application will be made not by North Ayrshire Council but by Scottish Ministers under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Laura Petrie, senior project manager at Galileo, said: “We have been in discussions with members of the community council about this issue and will continue to do so.  
 
"Galileo seeks to be a good neighbour to all of the communities that are local to our developments and we have been working with local elected representatives, community councillors and residents at every stage as we develop our proposals.
 
"In line with good industry practice, we are following planning policies and guidance including National Planning Policy Framework 4.

"We have consulted with relevant consultees to ensure that our section 36 application is supported by a robust environmental impact assessment, in keeping with Scottish Government guidance.  
 
"The guidance we are following in relation to wind farm noise has been agreed at both a national and local government level.

"This guidance is one of the most comprehensive pieces of guidance on this issue anywhere in the world and is regularly adopted and referenced internationally.  
 
"In the meantime, we will shortly be advertising our third round of community engagement events and look forward to setting out our final design proposals for the local community to review.”