May 16, 2014
England

Call for ‘moratorium’ on wind power in Cornwall

Western Morning News | May 16, 2014 | www.westernmorningnews.co.uk

Landscape campaigners have formally objected to plans for a giant wind farm in Cornwall and called for a “moratorium” on the controversial technology

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has opposed the Good Energy scheme for 11 turbines, measuring almost 400ft to blade tip in height (125m), on farmland near Week St Mary.

The group stated its position after a public meeting on Tuesday attended by around 250 people and chaired by Cornwall Council’s Robert Nolan, chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, which will consider a planning application on July 7.

Hundreds of letters have been received by the local authority both for and against the £30 million scheme – dubbed The Big Field Wind Farm – which could eventually form part of the largest renewable energy site in the county if plans for a 75-acre solar farm also go ahead.

Villagers say they are concerned over the impact on house prices, noise and visual impact.

Good Energy say the scheme offers a range of community benefits including a local community fund worth £63,250 a year and local dual fuel and electricity tariffs to all households within 5km of the development.

The CPRE said its primary concern was the visual impact on the surrounding landscape, which includes three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

It said the 11 windmills would be as tall as a 40-storey building, covering 125 acres and be visible from a distance of up to 15km.

CPRE Cornwall spokesman, Orlando Kimber said: “This is clearly an industrial development in a rural area.”

“We understand that as a county, we’ve already met our statutory commitment to renewables.

“We therefore ask the council to call for a moratorium on all on-shore wind turbines, to review their energy policy in the light of rapid developments over the past five years; and to communicate better with the public rather than make decisions behind closed doors.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/05/16/call-for-moratorium-on-wind-power-in-cornwall/