Inquiry opens into wind farm upgrade
PLANS to make significant changes to Cornwall's wind farming landscape were revisited yesterday as the planning inquiry into the Carland Cross wind farm project was officially opened, writes the WMN's Ryan Hooper.
The inquiry, which is expected to last at least six days, was prompted after Scottish Power Renewables appealed against the former Carrick District Council's decision to reject the plans, days before the council was disbanded to make way for the unitary authority.
-
Energy giant Scottish Power wants to replace its 15 turbines at Carland Cross, between Truro and Newquay, with 10 new ones that, at 100m from base to blade tip, are double the height of existing machinery.
But concerns have been raised locally over the effect on the character and appearance of the landscape, and the implications on living conditions of residents due to possible noise and visual intrusion.
Such is the strength of feeling surrounding the issue, Cornwall Council decided on a last-minute change of venue for the inquiry, to cater for the number of members of the public who wished to attend.
The new venue, at Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay, was described by planning inspector David Lavender as "better suited to disco dancing than a planning inquiry", after complaints from the 30-40 members of the public that they were unable to hear due to echo and microphone feedback in the room, which had a disco ball suspended above Mr Lavender's head.
After a short delay, Scottish Power launched into their opening statement, outlining how the 10 new turbines would be split between the existing land at Carland Cross and on additional land at nearby Newlyn Downs.
John Houghton, Scottish Power's legal representative, said how the new turbines would have a generating capacity of 20MW, more than three times the current capacity.
He said: "A repowering of an existing location not only has the advantage of making use of a site already characterised by wind farm development, but also the enhanced [wattage] capacity can be achieved relatively quickly. In our submission, the need for this project decisively outweighs any landscape visual or residential amenity impacts which the project may have."
Barrister Graeme Keen, on behalf of Cornwall Council, said there was "a considerable amount of common ground" between the main parties involved. But he said the turbines would have "significant adverse impacts" on the landscape character and residential property in Fiddlers Green, St Newlyn East and other areas.
Mr Keen said: "The significant adverse impacts substantially outweigh the benefits associated with the production of energy from the proposed renewable source."
3 Comments
by Chris Law, Liskeard
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 3:49PM
“Once again, an opportunity to drag heads out of the sand and step forward into a new era of responsible and sustainable power generation is threatened with being lost.
The comments from Barrister Graeme Keen that adverse effects outweigh any benefits is misguided, blinkered and demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of the harmful effects of climate change and of the benefits of modern wind turbine technology.
If the communities of Cornwall would far rather nuclear power stations spring up along the coast or coal fired power stations continue to accelerate us towards extreme weather events, food shortages, soaring energy costs and political instability then fine. Go ahead and keep mindlessly opposing renewable energy projects with the same redundant, out-dated and short-sighted arguments as before.
If however, you do have a sense of responsibility and can think beyond your own garden fence then please please please take the time to properly understand the technologies and opportunities being presented.
Climate change isn't "so-called" or "alleged", it is happening, faster than predicted. To deny this is to argue black is white. The clock is ticking, we all have a part to play and a chance to sort things out. The more opportunities we spurn, the more time we waste fighting change for the sake of not wanting to accept inevitable change, the more nails are hammered into the coffin.
We are not indestructible and we do not have a right to indefinite habitation of the planet regardless of our actions. If we continue along the same route in terms of production of CO2 we will probably eventually bring about our own extinction.”
by David Wilcock, Western Morning News
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 2:39PM
“Our reporter, Ryan Hooper, was actually present for 90 minutes of the inquiry and his report was made using full and accurate notes taken during that time.”
by Peter Jones, Newquay
Wednesday, November 11 2009, 1:35PM
“I'm confused how the reporter can comment on the venue or how happy people were with it when he didn't stay more than ten minutes. Inaccurate quoating of the Inspector too. Shoddy.”