January 11, 2007
U.K.

People 'like to see wind turbines', developer claims

The head of one of the country’s largest windfarm developers has claimed the public’s perception of towering turbines is changing – he says many people now like seeing them on the landscape.Bruce Woodman, chief executive of Cornwall Light and Power, said more people were coming round to the sight of wind turbines, leading to a fall in objections.

The Charlestown-based firm, part of power giant Renewable Energy Generation (REG), is attempting to have three 90m-high wind turbines installed on land at Goveton, near Kingsbridge, South Devon. “People are increasingly liking to see wind turbines,” said Mr Woodman. “In fact, a lot of people do like seeing wind turbines.”

Mr Woodman admitted that the majority of wind turbines in the Westcountry were too noisy because they had been built before technology improved.

The significant remaining barrier to the industry, he said, was the local planning system. “Even that is getting better,” he claimed.

But windfarm opponents disagreed with his comments. Gary Watson, from Buckland-tout-Saints residents’ association, which is planning to fight proposals for the three 90m turbines near Goveton, said the turbines were “an industrialisation of the landscape”.

He said: “The turbines’ movement will always attract the eye and detract from the pleasant visual amenity of the area and scar a protected landscape.”

westernmorningnews.co.uk


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/01/11/people-like-to-see-wind-turbines-developer-claims/