Scots Support Increase In Windfarms

Public Sector

People in Scotland who live in close proximity (up to 20km) to a windfarm show substantially more support for than opposition to them. New research by MORI Scotland for the Scottish Executive shows more than half (54%) would support increasing the number of turbines at their local windfarm by half. Four in five (82%) would support windfarms taking a greater role in the generating of electricity in Scotland over the next 15 years.

 

People in Scotland who live in close proximity (up to 20km) to a windfarm show substantially more support for than opposition to them. New research by MORI Scotland for the Scottish Executive shows more than half (54%) would support increasing the number of turbines at their local windfarm by half. Four in five (82%) would support windfarms taking a greater role in the generating of electricity in Scotland over the next 15 years.

Public Attitudes to Windfarms: A Survey of Local Residents in Scotland, www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/environment/pawslr-00.asp

Technical details

MORI Scotland interviewed a total of 1,810 adults (aged 18+) living up to 20km from a windfarm site in Scotland. Fieldwork took place between 27 February -- 19 March 2003. Interviews were conducted by telephone. The data are weighted to reflect the population in proportion to the distance (zone) from each windfarm site.

Topline Results

Q1 First, can I just check whether this is your sole or main residence or whether it is a second or holiday home?

160 %
Sole/main residence 100
Holiday/second home *

Q2 Do you or a member of your family own the property?

160 %
Yes 100
No *

Q3 And how long have you or your family had this property?

160 %
Up to 1 year 1
Over 1 yr up to 2 yrs 2
Over 2 yrs up to 5 yrs 15
Over 5 yrs up to 10 yrs 19
Over 10 yrs up to 20 yrs 29
Over 20 yrs 34

Q4 Taken as a whole, how would you rate that area as a place to live? Is that very or fairly good/poor?

160 %
Very good 50
Fairly good 42
Fairly poor 5
Very poor 2
Don't know / No opinion 1

Q5 (And) If you were describing the area to someone who didn't know it, what would you say were the good things about the area? And what else?

160 %
Quiet/peaceful 28
Picturesque/beauty/nice scenery/nice beaches 26
Countryside/rural isolation 23
Nice/good/friendly neighbours/people 20
Good local amenities 18

Q6 (And) If you were describing the area to someone who didn't know it, what would you say were the bad things about the area? And what else?

160 %
Lack of amenities/facilities 20
Poor/lack of public transport/need a car/own transport 18
Unemployment/lack of industry 8
None/Nothing 14

I understand that there is a windfarm fairly near where you live. I would now like to ask some questions about your views on having a windfarm in your local area.

Q12 What effect, if any, would you say the presence of the windfarm has had in your local area? Would you say it has had...

160 %
A completely positive effect 7
A generally positive effect 13
Neither positive nor negative effect 51
A generally negative effect 5
A completely negative effect 2
Don't know / No opinion 23

Q13 In which of the following circumstances, if any, would you be able to see the turbines at the windfarm?

160 %
From your home 12
When travelling on local roads you use 45
When travelling on major roads you use 48
When you are out walking in the country 30
At other times 6
All of these 1
Never see them 20

Q14 How often do you see the turbines at the windfarm?

Base: If ever see windfarm/turbines (1,545)

160 %
All the time 12
Frequently 22
Occasionally 63
Don' t know 3

Q15 Was the wind farm already here when you moved in, or has it been built since then?

160 %
Windfarm already here 10
Built since moved in 77
Don't know 14

I would like to know what you anticipated it might be like having a local windfarm (before it was built/before you moved here), and then I will ask you about what it has actually been like.

Q16a Which of the following problems, if any, did you think having a windfarm in the area might cause? Q17a And which, if any, have actually turned out to be problems caused by having a windfarm in the area?

Base: All who have moved to the area with a windfarm already there (117)

160 16a Thought might be problems 17a Have been problems
160 % %
Noise from the turbines 15 4
The look of the landscape being spoiled 23 17
Interference with TV and radio reception 3 4
Damaging effect on local business 4 -
Damage to plants or animals 12 3
Noise or disturbance during construction 19 7
Extra traffic during construction 23 10
A reduction in house prices 11 4
None of these 54 75

Q16b Which of the following problems, if any, did you think having a windfarm in the area might cause? Q17b And which, if any, have actually turned out to be problems caused by having a windfarm in the area?

Base: All who have lived in the area before the windfarm was built (1,547)

160 Thought might be problems Have been problems
160 % %
Noise from the turbines 12 2
The look of the landscape being spoiled 27 12
Interference with TV and radio reception 6 1
Damaging effect on local business 3 1
Damage to plants or animals 12 3
Noise or disturbance during construction 15 4
Extra traffic during construction 19 6
A reduction in house prices 7 2
None of these 54 82

Q18 When the wind farm was first proposed, where did you get any information from about the proposed development? And where else?

Base: all those who lived in the area before the windfarm was built 1,547

160 %
The developer/operator 1
Local newspaper 40
TV or radio 4
Environmental groups *
Local campaign groups 1
The local authority/planning office 4
Word of mouth 4
Public meeting 2
Other 7
160
Did not get any information 37
Don't know / Can't remember 14

Q19 Did the developer conduct any public consultation about the windfarm that you were aware of at the time? Did you respond to the public consultation?

Base: all those who lived in the area before the windfarm was built 1,547

160 %
Yes, was consultation by developer, and responded 3
Yes, was consultation by developer, but didn't respond 10
No consultation by developer that aware of 64
Don't know / Can't remember 23

Q20 How satisfied or dissatisfied were you with the level of consultation by the developer? Would you say that you were...?

Base: all those who lived in the area before the windfarm was built 1,547

160 %
Very satisfied 7
Fairly satisfied 16
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 46
Fairly dissatisfied 7
Very dissatisfied 4
Don't know 19

Q21 Did the local authority planning department conduct any public consultation that you were aware of at the time? Did you respond to the public consultation?

Base: all those who lived in the area before the windfarm was built 1,547

160 %
Yes, was consultation by planning department, and responded 2
Yes, was consultation by planning department, but didn't respond 8
No consultation by planning department that aware of 62
Don't know / Can't remember 28

Q22 And how satisfied or dissatisfied were you with the level of consultation by the local authority? Would you say that you were...

Base: all those who lived in the area before the windfarm was built 1,547

160 %
Very satisfied 4
Fairly satisfied 14
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 44
Fairly dissatisfied 10
Very dissatisfied 6
Don't know 22

Q23 What methods do you think should be used to make sure people get information and are able to express their views if windfarms are proposed in their area? And what else?

Base: All

160 %
Advertise public meetings 15
Conduct door to door surveys 6
Conduct telephone surveys 2
Display/exhibition library/other public building 10
Feedback on outcome of results of consultation 2
Have an office on the site that the local residents can speak to someone about it 2
Have public meetings 29
Just keep doing what they are doing/ no improvements needed 2
Mobile display van 1
Put articles in the local newspaper 43
Put articles on the local radio station 10
Put leaflets through doors 33
Set up dedicated website with information/enquiry address 2
Set up telephone enquiry line 1
Other 9
Don't know 10

Q24 To what extent would you support or oppose increasing the number of turbines at the windfarm by (insert figure representing 50% increase on existing number of turbines)? Would you...

Base: All

160 %
Strongly support 26
Tend to support 28
Neither support nor oppose 25
Tend to oppose 5
Strongly oppose 4
Don' t know 11

Q25 To what extent would you support or oppose increasing the number of turbines at the windfarm by (insert figure representing 100% increase on existing number of turbines)? Would you...

Base: All

160 %
Strongly support 19
Tend to support 23
Neither support nor oppose 24
Tend to oppose 11
Strongly oppose 10
Don' t know 14

Q26 I am going to read out some different ways of generating electricity. For each one, I would like you to tell me whether you think the proportion of electricity generated in Scotland should increase, reduce or stay at about current levels over the next 15 years? First of all...

Base: All

160 Increase Keep same Reduce Don't know
160 % % % %
Coal fired power 9 24 60 6
Oil fired power 9 32 48 10
Nuclear power 7 17 68 9
Wind energy 82 11 2 6
Wave energy 69 11 3 17

Q27 And from what you know, is it the Scottish Executive's policy that the proportion of electricity generated in Scotland using each of these methods should increase, reduce or stay at about current levels over the next 15 years? First of all...

Base: All

160 Increase Keep same Reduce Don't know
160 % % % %
Coal fired power 6 16 46 32
Oil fired power 10 18 35 37
Nuclear power 10 12 44 34
Wind energy 66 5 1 28
Wave energy 52 9 2 37

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