The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) held meetings with both the Westermost Rough wind farm developer Dong Energy and East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) on April 7.
These discussions included a review of the initial evidence gathered from monitoring activities. While some evidence of noise has been identified, this evidence is inconclusive and not robust enough for the MMO to make decisions relating to the construction of the wind farm.
MMO says that it understands the concerns that have been expressed by some local residents but it is important any decision made in relation to the marine licence is evidence based.
MMO will continue to work with both ERYC and the developer to identify the source of any noise. To try and identify any causal relationships between wind farm construction and noise, MMO has discussed with Dong Energy, which will place further equipment together with the ERYC’s monitoring equipment into some residents’ homes.
Additionally, Dong Energy is working with the British Geological Society to map local seabed geology to try and identify any strata that could transmit vibration from construction activity. A weather station is also being deployed to try and correlate if noise is being transmitted due to certain climatological conditions.
Dong Energy has also assured MMO that they will do all they can to carry out piling activity during the day.
Press release, April 8, 2014; Image: DONG Energy