Wind farm battle on brink of being won
A TWO-YEAR battle to stop Cornwall's tallest wind turbines dominating Bodmin Moor is on the brink of being won.
Cornwall Council's planning officers have urged members of the strategic planning committee to reject the plan for 20 turbines at Davidstow when they meet to determine the application by Community Wind Power on Tuesday night.
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But the same officers have dealt a blow to objectors fighting to prevent more turbines being built at nearby Otterham, with a recommendation to approve that bid.
North Cornwall has been targeted by wind energy companies over the years and there is now a cluster of four bids still to be determined.
Repercussions
Officers say supporting one scheme is likely to have repercussions for others nearby.
Councillors will be told next week they should refuse the 126-metre high turbines as they will have a harmful impact on the important landmark sites of Rough Tor and Brown Willy, the two highest peaks in the county.
Campaign group STINC (Stop Turbines In North Cornwall) have urged people to swamp the planning meeting in Camelford on Tuesday.
STINC's Bob English said locals had been fighting wind farms in the area for 13 years, but there had been particular concern raised over the latest Davidstow proposal.
"It's caused the most concern to people all over Cornwall and utter annoyance to locals,
"Community Wind Power called their project Davidstow Community Wind Farm in an attempt to appear to have the backing of local people,'' claimed Mr English.
"But this is not true as seven local parish councils, and Camelford Town Council have all rejected the application.
"When it came before the east sub area planning committee, councilors couldn't understand how the application ever got to the committee stage,'' he said.
He feared that even more wind companies would be eyeing up North Cornwall in the future.
"To these companies we seem an easy target because we want to be green – but we are not that green.
"Cornwall has not experienced the new generation of turbines which dwarf the existing ones. There are eight working wind farms in our narrow peninsular and many more earmarked.
"Hopefully this bid at Davidstow will end on Tuesday with councillors having the common sense to reject it.
"It will be a great relief when the application is put to rest, and we hope the company will accept that they have misjudged not only the location of the wind farm, but underestimated the population's ability to see through the propaganda.
"If Community Wind Power lodges an appeal, it will fly in the face of all their claims of consultation and engagement with local people.''
Community Wind Power says the wind farm would provide a significant and positive boost to renewable electricity generation in Cornwall, and community benefits of at least £150,000 per year would be available for local communities.
The company said more than £55 million would be initially invested if the scheme gets the go-ahead.
5 Comments
by Jethro George Gauld, St austell for 15 years (am now 20)
Sunday, October 18 2009, 4:53PM
“Come on, Cornwall is one of the windiest counties in the UK allowing these wind farms would allow us to positively impact on our future. The UK needs wind power as part of a wider mix of renewables to tackle climate change, dwindling resources energy security and many more. The impacts of all these problems are already being observed globally and locally. The longer we put off dealing with them the worse it will be.
We have 5 years to cap global caron emissions to prevent the worst effects of climate change which will definately ruin your view of brown willy by turning it from heathery wilderness into a much drier landscape. Goodbye biodiversity.
From a second year Ecology student who despite feeling privelagde to grow up in such a beautiful county had to get out of cornwall to study in Sussex due to frustration with organisations such as STINC who ruin efforts to contribute positively to society by spreading fear and irrational arguments. Sorry to rant, but news such as this really frutrates me and many others working for a better world.
Congrats to Jon for showing his support or projects such as this.”
by Tracey, North Cornwall
Friday, October 09 2009, 3:20PM
“Who wants nuclear power, what would happen if they suggested a power station in Cornwall. We would all go ballistic.
I would not like to see more wind farms or indeed taller ones, the ones in place are already tall enough and imposing. But I agree we do need to consider the future
However the thought of having nuclear power is not appealing and I wouldnt want that on my doorstep
If the communities actually received discounts on their energy, then perhaps it would be a different matter, but green energy with our supplier costs us more and we live near the windfarms!!!”
by CarbonBoot, The Duchy Of Cornwall
Thursday, October 08 2009, 12:58PM
“'Working in partnership with Miller Patterson nearly 100 homes in the local area have received free loft or cavity wall insulation at a cost of over £10,000 to Community Windpower. Community Clubs have benefited already with nearly £2,000 already being paid.'
That sounds like bribery!
Keep Roughtor and Brown Willy, Cornwall's national peaks, free of monstrous flailing turbine skyline clutter.”
by John, West Cornwall
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 8:34PM
“ALL of the 2300 windmills in the UK, only produce 3GW. The two new nuclear power stations planned for Hincley Point and Sizewell will together produce 3.2GW. So one nuclear power station produces more power than over 1000 windmills. Lets keep our countryside relatively windmill free.”
by Jon, North Cornwall for 44yrs the last 14, Camelford.
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 3:11PM
“Strategically the proposed location is the best brown field site in Cornwall and one of
only two sites suitable in the South West for this level of development; one being
Fullabrook Down in Devon which was approved last year.
Currently Cornwall is a chief importer of electricity and this renewable energy
scheme would provide a secure and sustainable Cornish energy resource capable of
providing electricity for over 28,000 homes.
Working in partnership with Miller Patterson nearly 100 homes in the local area have received free loft or cavity wall insulation at a cost of over £10,000 to Community Windpower. Community Clubs have benefited already with nearly £2,000 already being paid.
Davidstow was previously occupied in the World War to allow us the right to vote a give us freedom. We have a new battle to fight, Climate change. Let the land be used to give our next generations freedom; and in years to comewhen advanced technology allows us to use wave, let the use of Davidtsow return...as a local resident, surely this should be considered?”