A NORTH CORNWALL farmer whose planning application for a 26-metre wind turbine was refused last week has expressed his disappointment.

Raymond Quinn's application for a 20kW turbine at Treharrock Farm, was refused by councillors at the East Sub-Area Planning Committee meeting in Liskeard last Wednesday.

Mr Quinn had put in the application to help reduce the £16,000 annual electricity bill and carbon footprint at his 275-cow farm in Pendogget, near Port Issac. It was the second time he had tried to get permission for a turbine.

An earlier application was withdrawn following opposition from residents that the structure would have a negative visual impact.

Mr Quinn said: "We feel disappointed that the councillors who voted against it appeared to buckle under pressure from a handful of objectors rather than stand up for what, in the view of the planning officer, the vast majority of residents and in my view, was clearly the right thing to do."

Retired sound engineer, Bill Andrews, who helped with the application in the final stages said the decision to refuse was of particular concern.

"Treharrock Farm has the usual early morning and late afternoon milking electrical loads. Mr Quinn employs five local people full-time and four part-time. This saving in electric costs would increase the viability and sustainability of the farm."

Residents who opposed the scheme said the decision to refuse the application was welcome news and called for a different approach for future turbine applications.

"I am truly very relieved," said Emma Hambly, who runs the nearby Grade II Treharrock Manor.

"The turbine would have had a negative effect on my home and business. But I am a huge fan of green energy and as someone who used to work as an environmental scientist I do truly understand the climate change issues. As a business we put a huge effort into protecting and maintaining our natural environment and Cornwall is so dependent on its natural heritage it seems foolhardy to splatter these things across the countryside.

"I am intrigued by the number of man-hours that have gone into this application and others like it. From the applicant, the opponents and councillors. Just think what could have been achieved if those man-hours had been spent looking for a true solution to our energy problems."

At Treharrock Farm, the decision has left the team wondering what to do next.

"Dairy farming has a high carbon footprint and the Government is bringing pressure on the industry to reduce it," said Mr Quinn.

"This turbine would have off-set around 42 per cent of our annual electricity consumption, and reduced our carbon emissions by an average of 18 tonnes every year. At the site meeting around 30 people came in support. Our income and theirs has to be generated from the land and service businesses in our area. It's tough to know what to do next."