November 20, 2012
England

Turbine protestors hire helicopter to show height of tower

Western Morning News | 20 November 2012 | www.thisiscornwall.co.uk

Anti-wind turbine protesters hired a helicopter to show how high a proposed 328ft (100 metre) tall wind turbine would stand in their village.

Villagers living at Luscombe Cross, South Hams, Devon, put their hands in their pockets to show local district councillors who were on a site visit how high the intended structures would be.

Dozens of people watched as the helicopter hovered over the village yesterday morning.

Tresoc, the Totnes Renewable Energy Society, submitted a planning application in August to build the turbine.

A spokesman for the protester group said: “Many people assumed, just as I did, that these would be 100ft and not 328ft.

“To have something so large, so close to people’s homes, is nothing but a disgrace.”

However, Alix Riley, of Tresoc, said those in favour of the development outnumbered protesters by around three to one.

Ms Riley said: “We had planned to fly two balloons to show how high the turbine would be but it was simply too wet and windy which just goes to serve what a perfect spot it is to site the turbine.”

Ms Riley said the turbine would be sited 550 metres away from the nearest house.

A decision on the plans will be made on January 16 at South Hams District Council.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/11/20/turbine-protestors-hire-helicopter-to-show-height-of-tower/