THANKS to reporter Will Roberts for his excellent, balanced piece on wind farms (Echo, June 5).

The supposed benefits of wind farms are much trumpeted. However, experience is now demonstrating a downside to wind farms near homes: some people become ill. “Wind turbine syndrome” has been investigated in the US by Nina Pierpont, in the UK by Amanda Harry, and in France by the Academy of Medicine.

All the researchers advise that wind turbines should be set back from homes by 1.5 to 2km. In Scotland, a 2km setback has now been advised, but here in England, we have no such protection – as described by the Bolam Area Action Group.

The North-East has had more of its fair share of industrial ill-health: asbestosis, pneumoconiosis, bladder cancer, etc. Awareness of these issues has led to new, safer ways of working to eliminate these health problems.

But now, in the rush to implement the new technology of renewable energy, I fear once again people in the North-East will pay the price with their health. Please can we have responsible implementation of renewable energy, away from people’s homes, until we know more about it?

Helen Johnson, Appleton Wiske, NorthYorkshire.