Are you affected by the Cawston ‘hum’?
Over the past two years, since the connection to the Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm, a number of Cawston residents have raised concerns over the noise from the electricity substation at Salle on the Cawston to Reepham road. They have been told this “hum” is coming from the reactors in the substation and is worse when there is not much wind offshore.
Concerns have been raised over the noise from the electricity substation at Salle
The level of disturbance caused seems to depend on atmospheric conditions, and is loudest and most disruptive on still evenings and nights. If you walk on Marriott’s Way you may have noticed this noise, and certain areas of Cawston seem to be more affected than others.
Residents report that previous attempts to engage the company responsible for the substation have not proved fruitful: the company has been dismissive of the problem and has tried to prove the noise does not exist – and if it does, that it is not of a sufficient level to constitute a nuisance.
Led by James Livingstone, Steve Mumby and Paul Sutton, a group of residents have now got together, with the backing of Cawston Parish Council, to co-ordinate an organised response to this situation.
“We are just asking for the chance to have a proper dialogue with the company and for them to present some options for mitigating the problem,” the group said. “We are trying to represent the views of all concerned to resolve this issue, which could last for at least another 50 years.
“We recently met with our local Broadland District Councillor, James Joyce, to discuss this matter and arranged for Broadland’s environmental health officer Tony Garland and a representative from the electricity company to come to Cawston in July to monitor the problem with specialist equipment.
“We intend to represent local views by holding further discussions with Broadland District Council and Statkraft, which is now responsible for the substation after taking over from Scira which built it, and also with our MP, Keith Simpson. This is as much as we can do at present until we get further support from other people affected by this ongoing problem.
“To resolve this quickly we need to demonstrate the strength of local feeling and require the electricity company to acoustically insulate the substation if they get enough complaints. It will be no good complaining later if we lose the initiative we have gained so far.”
- If you have any queries or wish to help, please contact: James Livingstone 01603 872078, Steve Mumby 01603 871543 or Paul Sutton 01603 872441, or email cawstonhum@gmail.com
