‘Houses and wind turbines will not make county appealing to tourists’  

Credit:  Cornish Guardian | www.thisiscornwall.co.uk 27 July 2012 ~~

The outgoing secretary of an environmental campaign group has fired a parting shot at council chiefs, claiming their decisions to approve thousands of new homes, wind turbines and solar farms will harm the county.

Tedd Venn will retire from the Cornwall branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) on July 31, after more than three years in the post.

He said the mass expansion of towns, together with the march of renewable energy structures would be detrimental to Cornwall.

“The attractiveness of Cornwall as a holiday destination will be lost as a result, with the consequence that a major component in Cornwall’s economy would decline,” he said.

“Cornwall’s deterioration as a wonderful place in which to live or visit is exacerbated by the unending proliferation of wind turbines that are now visible throughout the county, as well as the more recent introduction of solar farms.

“Although officials in the planning office have been most helpful, it is distressing to witness so many inappropriate planning applications being approved that do not reflect the wishes of many people.”

Mr Venn will retire to the north west Highlands of Scotland.

Also leaving the CPRE is president Mike Bruton, who gave notice at the group’s annual meeting in March that he would not seek re-election.

From August, Tony Hilton, who was chairman prior to Mr Bruton, will take over as acting chairman until the next annual meeting.

A successor will have to be found and it is hoped that candidates will come forward voluntarily or be proposed. Mr Hilton can be contacted on 01326 290629 or by e-mail at hyltonhall@aol.com