Wind farm rejected to help autistic boys

A North Lincolnshire wind farm plan has been rejected because of the "serious effect" it would have on eight-year-old autistic twin boys living nearby. Anita and Trevor Glathorne, whose Burton upon Stather home is already overlooked by one wind farm, said the rotating blades affected their sons.

It would have overlooked the front of the Glathornes' house, so they campaigned to have the application refused because they said it would harm their sons who both have autistic spectrum disorder. A report dismissing the appeal detailed evidence from a clinical psychologist who said the boys had a "fixation with spinning objects", adding that the "time they spend engaged in spinning and observing objects has to be limited in order to allow them to engage in other more meaningful activities".



Mrs Glathorne said the existing Bagmoor wind farm overlooking the back of their home had had a "massive effect" on her sons. "Both boys just stand and scream and flap their arms ecstatically at them spinning and get quite cross when they don't spin... it's unbelievable the effect, really, worse than we could have ever imagined." She said Ross had become so obsessed with the turbines that they had moved his bedroom.

The planning inspectorate dismissed the appeal solely because of the impact the farm would have on Lewis and Ross. Developer Ridge Wind said it was disappointed with the decision.