January 19, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
Celebrations were going on into the night in a Westcountry village after an appeal to build two massive wind turbines was refused.
The proposals had caused a long and bitter row in Lanlivery, in South East Cornwall.
Jean Thomas wanted to build two 250ft turbines, as high as Truro Cathedral, on Penpell Farm, but her plans faced well organised opposition.
Restormel Borough Council announced yesterday that the appeal against its earlier decision to refuse planning permission had been turned down.
Verna Roberts, chairman of Community of Lanlivery Opposes Wind Turbines (CLOWT), said: “This is a victory for democracy. It is a reflection of the feeling against the imposition of these monsters that a tiny community such as this could raise sufficient money to employ a barrister and a planning consultant to plead our case.”
The community raised a “war chest” of more than £13,000 in donations from locals and holidaymakers alike.
Sally Vincent, clerk of Lanlivery Parish Council, said: “It’s been a long, hard haul and there’s been so much heartache in the village. Now we’re just relieved and sincerely hope that’s the end of it.”
The first application for wind turbines on the site was made in 2002 and the debate has rumbled on ever since.
Last night local campaigners who support the wind turbines admitted that the case had not been well handled.
Valerie Tomlinson from the Camel area Friends of the Earth said: “This was a public relations disaster from the word go.”
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/01/19/windfarm-appeal-fails/