Turbine bid puts wind up protesters
A BID to build four giant wind turbines which would loom over Bodmin and Lanivet will soon be submitted to the local planning authority.
Energy company Ecotricity has confirmed it intends to erect the 100-metre structures at Reperry Cross.
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A composite picture released by protesters showing how the site could look.
Local campaign group BLOT (Bodmin and Lanivet Opposes Turbines) was formed nine months ago in anticipation of a wind farm application for the site, and says its worst fears have now been realised.
Yesterday, members of the group were at an exhibition of the turbine plans in Lanivet where they handed out leaflets and urged people to sign a petition against the planning application.
BLOT members claim the 100-metre turbines will be twice the height of Bodmin Beacon and will scar the landscape.
Ecotricity maintains wind turbines are needed to reduce carbon emissions from conventional electricity generation to help fight climate change.
Bodmin Town Council has already informed North Cornwall District Council it would oppose any development that would impact on Bodmin Beacon and the surrounding nature reserve which has just received a Green Flag award from the Civic Trust, one of only four sites in the county to gain the award.
BLOT spokeswoman Helen Watson, who lives close to the proposed site, said the campaign group was ready to fight the application.
“Now we know that Ecotricity is going to submit a planning application for these huge turbines, we can really start focussing our attention as a protest group, and work towards persuading everyone concerned that this wind farm must not be allowed to go ahead,'' she said.
“These turbines will loom over Bodmin and Lanivet and will also have a detrimental impact on Helman Tor, an ancient site of special scientific interest.
“The turbines will ruin the ambience of the area and ruin the quality of life of the people living near the site.''
Mrs Watson said her members had received support and advice from various anti-turbine groups in Cornwall and Devon, including Lanlivery campaigners who successfully fought an application there after a three-year battle.
“If we can get the support of communities which will be effected by the wind farm, I'm confident we will be able to stop it going ahead.''
Ecotricity MD Dale Vince said the Reperry turbines would generate enough electricity to power 19% of homes in North Cornwall, and there was an urgent need to change the way energy was produced in the UK.
He said: “ We're facing the twin problems of a global energy crisis. The world is running out of oil and gas and we can't afford to burn the stuff anyway because of climate change. Wind energy is a local resource, it grows here in the UK and we can make our own energy from it, and solve both problems.''
Yesterday's exhibition in Lanivet will move to Bodmin library today, where it will run until August 13.
3 Comments
by Andy Elford, Newquay
Tuesday, August 05 2008, 11:10AM
“In respone to Peter and Alex, not all wind farm protesters are retired, I'm only 32 and I wouldn't want these ugly turbines any where near me. Firstly, part of the reason electricity prices are so high is because of the massive subsidies wind farm companies receive (£300.000 per turbine), secondly each turbine uses 1000 tonnes of concrete just for the foundations which prodcues massive amounts of CO2 to produce. Thirdly, transporting these gigantic turbines to their locations produces yet more CO2 from the lorry engines. and finally the most important reason for not having wind farms is the fact that they are inefficient, they only prodce 27% of their out put.”
by Alex Johnston, Bodmin
Monday, August 04 2008, 8:01AM
“I completely agree with Peter above.
I also question the common sense and scientific knowledge of these protesters. The only petty reason they have for protesting against the wind turbines is how they look and how they will "lower peoples' quality of life" in the area...
...Firstly I would like to point out that we could always just whack up a monster coal power station instead (whichwould be definatley more unsightly than wind turbines) and produce masses of CO2 and copious atmospheric pollutants; which will add to the grenhouse effect (which may I add, could cause a rise in sea level and drown Cornwall in years to come) and increase the risk of respiratory problems in the area.
And I'm sure you'll love the fact that your electricity bills are rising dramatically.
I mean, come on, do you just expect electricity to be generated from thin air?
Why don't you go and protest about something meaningful
and stop jepordising our non fossil fuel dependent future...”
by Peter Smith, Bodmin
Thursday, July 31 2008, 10:20AM
“And what exactly do the protesters plan to do when energy even more expensive.
These protesters are usually retired NIMBYS who have nothing better to do.
Cornwall has a proud heritage in pioneering engineering projects since tin was first mined here.
Do not let retired NIMBYS stop this innovation.”