April 6, 2014
England

Shebbear protesters use 20ft blimp to highlight planned wind turbines

North Devon Journal | April 06, 2014 | www.northdevonjournal.co.uk

Residents in Shebbear enlisted the help of a 20ft blimp to protest against the construction of ”unacceptable” wind turbines in the area.

More than 100 people, including Torridge and West Devon MP Geoffrey Cox, visited the site at Langs Linhay, Shebbear, where the blimp was flown.

Hovering 77m from the ground, the bright red blimp was used to mark the height of a new turbine planned for the nearby Bradworthy Farm.

Another 77m tall turbine is also planned for Eastwood Farm and a further two of the same height have already been approved for the area.

The event was organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England.

The crowd heard how a list of planning applications within a seven-mile radius of the site showed there were “a staggering 50 wind turbines” in the pipeline.

Penny Mills, chairman of CPRE Devon, said: “This was a fantastic turnout, indicating the great strength of feeling that there is right across the district.

“These industrial-sized wind turbines are unacceptable in these rural locations and are so close to people’s homes that they are ruining the countryside, people’s lives, and dividing our communities.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/04/06/shebbear-protesters-use-20ft-blimp-to-highlight-planned-wind-turbines/