environmental statement - Rotherham's Online Application for ...

11.56 Faber Maunsell was commissioned by the Applicant to identify the
likelihood of driver distraction occurring on the strategic network as a
consequence of the proposed development. In assessing the potential for
driver distraction, on-site observations were taken of nearby Strategic
Road Network (SRN) routes, along with an analysis of traffic flow data in
the context of network capacity and an analysis of historical accident data
for the SRN in the vicinity of the site.
11.57 The Highways Agency “Network Strategy Spatial Planning Advice Note:
SP 04/07” provides guidance on the considerations for the siting of wind
turbines near to Highways Agency‟s SRN. The guidance is produced to
assist in addressing the considerations at the planning application stage.
The assessment was undertaken to address one of the main
considerations of visual distraction, but also to address the consideration
of „shadowing or flicker‟.
11.58 A site visit was undertaken on 10th December 2008 in order to assess the
potential for driver distraction in the form of visual distraction (from a
qualitative perspective). The assessment was based on the visibility of the
wind farm within the drivers‟ line of sight. These visual ranges are referred
to as the „foveal visual range‟ (which is the area around the central line of
sight of the human eye and is generally within a 3° arc on either side of the
direct line of sight) and the drivers‟ peripheral visual range (which ranges
between 3° and approximately 60° on either side of the direct line of sight).
These two ranges are referred to in the observations as the direct and the
indirect visibility, to distinguish between the visual areas which the driver is
focussed on and the areas which the driver can see, but not clearly focus
on.
ASSESSMENT
11.59 The report “Visual Assessment of Wind farms: Best Practice” produced by
Scottish Natural Heritage, provides a matrix table which suggests that
turbines of the size proposed have the potential to have a dominant visual
impact within a 4km radius. Sections of the M1, M18 and a number of
local roads falls within this distance. A survey of the potential turbine
visibility demonstrates that the turbines will be visible within 4km on the
following routes:
Route A - M1 Eastbound approaching Junction 33;
Route B - M1 Northbound approaching Junction 31;
Route 1 - M1 Junction 31 and M18 Junction 1;
Route 2 - M18 Junction 1 and M1 Junction 31;
Route 3 - M18 Junction 1 and M1 Junction 33;
Route 4 - M1 Junction 33 and M18 Junction 1;
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement