Wind farm noise generates anger

Residents living on the north Wales coast have complained they are being repeatedly woken up at night by building work on an offshore wind farm.

Clwyd West MP David Jones has written to npower renewables voicing protests from people living between Colwyn Bay and Llandudno in Conwy.

The MP said: "It's unreasonable. Why do they have to do it in the middle of the night?"

The company said tidal conditions meant work had to be done at night.

Foundations for the Rhyl Flats project are being laid by an 80m (262ft) crane called the Svanen, which was sailed in from the Netherlands, is driving "piles" into the seabed.

'Zombie'

Maureen Jones, of Rhos on Sea, Colwyn Bay, said she had been disturbed every other night since last Thursday.

She added: "I'm like a zombie. I can't get any sleep - it's thoughtless.

"On Thursday I heard a heck of a crash and went outside because I thought it was the roof.

"I moved room, put cotton wool in my ears and hid under the duvet. But I could still hear it.

"A lot of young children are also being woken up."

An npower spokesman said about 25% of the work had been completed, and the company had permission to work at night.

He added: "We would prefer to do things during the day but we can't because of the tidal conditions.

"The pile-driving will probably continue over the next two to three months, usually for a maximum of two to four hours at a time and every two or three days."

It is hoped the wind farm will generate enough electricity to power 61,000 homes, starting in November.

The MP warned that other communities across Britain could face similar problems because of plans to install thousands of turbines nationwide.

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