August 23, 2013
England

Ban on future turbine plans at Summercourt is demanded

Cornish Guardian | August 23, 2013 | www.thisiscornwall.co.uk

Plans for a 77-metre-high wind turbine near Summercourt are due to be submitted this week, developers say – but villagers say they are being swamped by wind turbines and urged Cornwall Council not to consider any more applications.

Mi-Grid exhibited its plans for the 500kW wind turbine at Nancolleth Farm, around 3.1km north-west of Summercourt, on Thursday.

Residents packed a meeting at St Newlyn East village hall where they were invited to raise concerns about the turbine, a three-bladed design measuring 50 metres to the hub and 77 to the blade tip.

Several villagers have since contacted the Cornish Guardian to say the proliferation of turbines in their area is affecting people’s health.

Peter Waller, who attended and spoke at the meeting, said afterwards:

“There should be some consideration given to this application because of the cumulative effect with other turbines in this area, at Carland Cross, Trevilson, Dairyland, Trewithian and Quintrell Downs, plus others that have been passed.

“We believe we have met the target set by the Government on renewable energy, yet still we get applications.

“We in the Summercourt area are being swamped with both turbines and solar farms. This is having an effect on people’s health because of, amongst other things, noise.”

Andy Hulks and his wife Debbie, near neighbours of the proposal site, said: “We continue to be staggered and saddened by the flood of turbine applications being submitted in our local area.

“We are feeling claustrophobic as we are increasingly surrounded by monstrous structures and feel strongly that the cumulative effect of the number of existing turbines should prevent any further applications being considered.”

Four objections have also been made via Cornwall Council’s planning register.

Mi-Grid declined to comment but a spokesman said its application should be submitted this week.

Information from Cornwall Council, which it says is available on its website, said: “Cumulative impact is one of the ‘material considerations’ which the council takes into account when assessing and making decisions on planning applications.

“Cornwall Council plots all planning applications for proposed wind turbines and large-scale solar PV development on a detailed map of Cornwall. This mapping system is used to assist landowners, developers, communities and planners when considering the issue of cumulative impact. Cornwall Council is one of the only authorities to map such development interest in this way.

“The council is also preparing guidance to provide further clarity on the assessment of the potential for cumulative impacts associated with wind turbines. This guidance is currently being scrutinised by members of the planning policy advisory panel. Subject to the outcome of this scrutiny … the intention is to present the document for adoption as planning guidance.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/08/23/ban-on-future-turbine-plans-at-summercourt-is-demanded/