April 7, 2008
England

Unanimous vote against turbine plan

A plan for an 80-metre-high wind turbine in the Cornish countryside has sparked strong opposition, with a public meeting voting unanimously against it.

But the company behind the turbine, planned for Redland near Pensilva in East Cornwall, said the meeting did not represent the true feeling of people living in the area.

Danny Mageean, chairman of campaign group Green Caradon Against Turbines, said more than 100 people had attended the meeting.

“At the end of it, a vote was taken and nobody was in favour of the plan,” he said.

“It will make no contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and will greatly impact on what is a very sensitive environment.

“It is 80m tall, and you will be able to see it from Plymouth and from Dartmoor.”

A planning application for the turbine has now been formally made to Caradon District Council and is open to public consultation.

Mr Mageean urged people living in the area to write to the council opposing the plan.

Bob Morgan, of Cornwall Light and Power, the company behind the turbine, said it would generate 3,120 megawatts of electricity a year. “We will be providing enough clean, green energy to service the village of Pensilva itself,” he added.

He had counted 78 residents at the meeting and this was not a true representation of all of the households in the area.

“We believe there is a large element of underlying support,” he said. “Because of the emotional and aggressive way in which the campaign has been handled, people don’t want to come out of the woodwork.”