September 18, 2006
U.K.
U.K.
Residents in part of the Westcountry fear massive wind turbines at twice the height of Nelson’s Column could be built in the countryside where they live after an application for a test site was approved. Mid Devon District Council’s planning committee approved the plans for a 60-metre anemometer mast at Bickham Moor, Oakford, which is close to the southern fringe of Exmoor.
On Wednesday the committee agreed to grant the application, by Coronation Power Ltd, for a period of 18 months.
The application was approved with an “informative note” to the applicants which said: “You are advised that the granting of planning permission for this temporary anemometer mast should not be interpreted as approval for a windfarm proposal on this site. Such an application would be considered on its merits.”
However, residents in the area have hit out at the approval claiming the company behind the proposals wants to build “vast” wind turbines in the area which they claim would be up to 125 metres high (410ft).
The Two Moors campaign chairman Ashley Gray said: “This decision is a bitter blow to both those who are campaigning for realistic renewable energy and those who wish to protect our unique countryside from unnecessary industrialisation.
“We should not be sacrificing the stunning landscape between our two moors for profit.
“On-shore wind has been shown time and again to be the white elephant of renewable energy, bloated by government subsidy, a busted flush that is ineffective, intermittent and intrusive.
“It is rapidly becoming an easy ‘quick buck’ for energy companies.”
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2006/09/18/residents-fear-of-turbines/