August 19, 2012
England

More than 100 object to turbine

Cornish Guardian | www.thisiscornwall.co.uk 17 August 2012

A controversial wind turbine application has attracted more than 100 objections from locals and holidaymakers.

Matthew and Jo Rowe have applied to install a Vestas V29 225kW wind turbine at Great Tredinnick Farm in St Neot, between Bodmin and Liskeard, to cut their electricity bills.

Tristan Farnworth wrote to Cornwall Council to strongly object.

“To construct this huge and hideous monstrosity that hundreds will have to witness on a daily basis so that one person can have the convenience of slashing their electricity seems an extraordinary act of ecological vandalism,” he said.

Another turbine application for Bofindle Farm, Mount has also proved controversial, with 36 comments to date.

Annie Ovenden said a survey indicated more than 90 per cent of residents were opposed.

“This strength of feeling was demonstrated on Tuesday, August 7, at the parish meeting where, unusually, the village hall was filled to capacity with some having to stand in the foyer,” she wrote.

Councillor Derris Watson, whose Cornwall Council division covers both, said objections to Great Tredinnick came from all over the country.

“They’ve got people who come down on holiday because some of the nearby properties are holiday lets,” she said.

“The protestors from St Neot hijacked the Warleggan parish meeting where they were discussing their turbine and two abstained because they said they felt intimidated by the hostile presence from people outside the parish.”

Mrs Watson said St Neot Parish Council voted three to five in favour but recommended it went to a full planning committee.

“How can you support something then ask for it to be called in? It’s a really odd situation so I’m talking to planning about it,” she said.

“I’ve called in the Warleggan one because on the parish council one was vehemently opposed, two were in favour, two wanted to see if some policy came out and two abstained due to intimidation. To me it didn’t give a clear indication either way.”

Mrs Watson said there was a balance and farms needed to be viable.

“Great Tredinnick has got two families – father and son – and four farm hands,” she said.

“They’re a dairy farm with quite a large herd. They would like to expand but energy costs are a huge burden and, with milk being sold below the cost of production, anything which helps them remain viable is, to my mind, good.”

Mrs Watson said she could see both sides on both applications and would wait for the officers’ recommendations.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/08/19/more-than-100-object-to-turbine/