Welcome to the official website for
Linton Zoological Gardens
Cambridgeshire's Wildlife Breeding Centre
Hadstock Road, Linton, Cambridgeshire, CB21 4NT (recently changed from CB1 6NT)
telephone: 01223 891308
Wind farm worry
No evidence to prove that there will not be an adverse impact on the vital work we are undertaking here has been given.
Therefore, until Enertrag can show conclusively that there will be absolutely no negative effect from the turbines on our activities, Linton Zoo has to oppose this proposed wind farm development.
Accurate depiction of the view from Rivey Hill if the application is approved.
The Zoo is one of the closest buildings to the turbines at only 1km away.
There are major concerns about what effect the presence of such large turbines will have on the important work at Linton Zoo. Breeding endangered species is sensitive work at the best of times so anything that might upset the animals must be considered very carefully. One of the main problems is in the sound that wind turbines produce as the blades rotate, particularly low frequency sound and vibration.
It has been known for a long time that animals hear and react to sounds that are outside the range of human ears. One only has to think of dog whistles at the high end of the frequency range. What may be less well known is that low pitched sound or "infrasound" is used by animals for communication. The advantage for these animals is that these sounds travel much further than higher pitched noises through the air and earth. This makes communication over long distances and through dense forests possible. It also increases the threat to the Zoo as the sounds will impact animals at greater distances.
Whales, dolphins, porpoises and many fish are sensitive to low frequency tremors and the former use sound waves to communicate. On land elephants, giraffes, rhinos, okapi to name a few have been shown to communicate via infrasound. Giraffes are particularly interesting because until recently they were thought to be "mute". Birds from pigeons to cassowary are also sensitive to infrasound.
The most dramatic example of the impact of infrasound was during the tsunami in 2004. Animals seem to have been able to "sense" the approaching tidal wave and move away to higher ground. Thus for example in Sri Lanka, where there were over 100,000 human deaths at the National Wildlife Park at Yala, which houses elephant, buffalo, monkeys and wild cats, no animal corpses were found days after the tsunami and yet only 30 of the 250 vehicles which entered the park on the day of the tsunami returned to base.
It is likely that the animals were responding to the infrasound and vibration generated by the earthquake and which travelled faster than the wave itself.
Infrasound is generated by a variety of natural and man-made sources, what is known is that wind farms generate infrasound and that it is below the threshold of hearing for humans.
No research that we can find has been done into the impact of large wind turbines on wild animals and so no guarantee can be given by Enertrag that there will not be any adverse impact on the animals at Linton Zoo and the breeding programmes that the Zoo undertake.
Given that the wind blows all across the UK, although interestingly harder in most other areas, it seems unnecessary to place some of the biggest turbines in the country 1km away from a zoo with an internationally recognised endangered species breeding programme.
1) Contact your local parish councillors and tell them you oppose the application and why. 2) Write or e-mail to BOTH the Planning Departments stating that you object to the application (reference numbers below) and your reasons. Copy this letter or e-mail to your District Councillor and if possible your M.P. 3) Each household member should write individually – adults and children can all object. 4)
Speak to your neighbours and friends and see if they will act too. This scheme overlaps the district and county borders with 7 turbines in South Cambs. and 1 in Uttlesford. There will be two separate planning applications but even if you live in the neighbouring District you can still object to the planning application in the other District.
Planning Department
Ref: S/0232/09/F
South Cambridgeshire District Council
South Cambridgeshire Hall
Cambourne Business park
Cambourne
Cambridge CB23 6EA
Email: planning@scambs.gov.ukPlanning Department
Ref: UTT/0232/09/FUL
Uttlesford District Council
London Road
Saffron Walden
Essex CB11 4ER
Email: planning@uttlesford.gov.ukThe Stop Linton Wind Farm website has more information on the wind farm impact.
If you need any help, please email us at: enquiries@stoplwf.org.uk
If you wish to support our campaign, please sign up online at:
www.stoplwf.org.ukClick here to see a map of the proposed turbines
