July 5, 2012
England

Wind turbine projects whip up emotions at hall meeting

North Devon Journal | www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk 5 July 2012

A total of 24 wind turbines could surround Shebbear if the most recent planning applications are approved.

The pending applications were discussed at a meeting in Shebbear Village Hall on Thursday night.

Shebbear and Parishes Protection Group called the meeting, which attracted 110 people. Those who attended were keen to know how they could help prevent the applications being approved.

Penny Mills, the chairman of Torridge’s branch of the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said writing to Torridge District Council is the most effective way of making your views known.

She warned parish councils they have a duty to respond to turbine applications as consultees. She said: “I will shame but I won’t name the parish councils but looking on Torridge District Council’s (TDC) planning website you can see what the parishes have responded with.

“One of them said ‘we will wait and see’ others have simply not responded. It is not good enough, we do have a problem here and you can make a difference.”

The meeting focused on four applications near Shebbear including a 102-metre, £1 million turbine at Alscott Farm which the meeting heard would be as high as a 33-storey building.

The other three turbines, which are all within a 2.5 mile radius of Shebbear, are a 34-metre turbine at Bason Farm, a 79-metre turbine at Durpley Farm and a 46-metre turbine at Henscott Farm.

Dr Phil Bratby, a retired energy consultant who has given evidence at six public inquiries for wind farms, said wind is an inefficient and unreliable energy source.

He said: “Wind is intermittent, turbines only work a third of the time and when they do they produce on average 10KW, which is enough to run three kettles. Windmills died out 200 years ago because bigger and better technology came along, never in anyone’s imagination would we have gone back.

“The turbines will be a lasting monument to politicians’ stupidity.

“There are already thousands in the US which have been abandoned because they are too expensive to repair.”

TDC’s planning committee was due to make a decision today on the proposed turbine at Durpley Farm but due to a lack of historical data included in the planning application the application has been deferred. The monthly plans meeting will still go ahead at 2pm in Riverbank House, Bideford.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/05/wind-turbine-projects-whip-up-emotions-at-hall-meeting/