January 31, 2007
U.K.
U.K.
Opponents of a scheme to site nine 103m high wind turbines on land at Batsworthy Cross flew a giant yellow balloon last weekend and celebrated achieving a significant landmark.
Members of the Two Moors Campaign flew a balloon to demonstrate the height of the proposed machines. And members were also cheered by the news that their petition against the scheme had now broken the 1,000 signature barrier.
The balloon was flown from the closest available field to the Batsworthy Cross site, as permission to fly from the land itself was not granted by the owners.
The balloon was flown to the height of 103m on lunchtime on Friday and Saturday, January 26 and 27. The site was visited on Saturday morning by North Devon MP Nick Harvey.
Campaigners said the blimp had been clearly visible for miles and offered visitors and locals a chance to see for themselves the impact of the proposed turbines on the landscape.
Ashley Gray, chairman of the Two Moors Campaign, said: “It was jaw dropping to actually see the scale of these proposed turbines.
“You can look at plans or computer generated images, but there is actually no comparison to seeing with your own eyes the height of these turbines.
“We have now reached 1,000 signatures, all of which have been collected by local volunteers and we will make sure the petition continues to grow.”
Mr Gray said the Two Moors Campaign was working with other groups in the region opposing wind farm application.
He said: “Devon and Cornwall are facing a blizzard of applications for these turbines. It seems where there is wind, there is money. If only it was about actually resolving the issue of climate change, but sadly it is not.”
A further planning application for two 100m high wind turbines at nearby Cross Moor, Knowstone, will be discussed at Mid Devon District Council’s planning committee meeting tomorrow.
The council has been consulted as a neighbouring authority of North Devon District Council which will determine both applications near Knowstone.
The Batworthy Cross application will not go before North Devon’s planning committee until February 21 at the earliest.
By Richard Wevill
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/01/31/balloon-shows-scale-of-proposed-wind-farm/