July 11, 2014
England

War Horse country wind turbine application “totally unacceptable”

By Nicole Travers-Wakeford, Holsworthy and Torridge reporter | North Devon Journal | July 10, 2014 | www.northdevonjournal.co.uk

An application for a wind turbine in the heart of War Horse valley has been refused by the planning inspectorate.

West Devon Borough Council refused plans for a 45 metre machine on Coombe Farm in Iddesleigh.

The applicant, Colin Illman, launched an appeal to the planning inspectorate against the council’s decision.

However, following a site visit in March, the planning inspectorate deemed the turbine would detract from the landscape character of the area.

Iddesleigh was made famous following author Michael Morpurgo’s publication of War Horse. The book went on to become a stage production and Hollywood film.

The planning inspectorate published a document outlining the appeal decision on June 30. The document stated: “The proposed turbine would result in the introduction of a tall, man-made addition to a rural landscape which is largely free of vertical features.

“While smaller than others proposed in the wider area, the turbine would be seen from many places throughout the valley.”

The position of the machine would have been visible from parts of the Tarka Trail.

The document stated: “While the turbine would be mostly screened from the footpath by high hedges when it is closest to the site, when seen from the stretch of the footpath on the lower part of the side of the valley opposite, it would dominate the view.”

Graham Ward, who runs the War Horse Valley Museum in Iddesleigh with his wife Rose, said they were pleased with the decision.

He said: “The view from our place would have been spoilt by the turbine.

“I am happy for turbines if it is for people’s own use and no higher than the height of a tree.

“Iddesleigh is a unique area. We don’t have pylons nearby, it is unspoilt countryside. I feel the countryside around here is a masterpiece.”

Penny Mills, chairman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Devon, said: “Iddesleigh and the surrounding area is a particularly beautiful and tranquil unspoilt part of Devon. This 150ft noisy, rotating machine would have been totally unacceptable in this location, which is why we objected to the proposal.

“The benefit in terms of electricity generated and emission savings would have been insignificant from this proposal.

“The insignificant benefit does not outweigh the harm in terms of adverse impact on the local amenity.”

The Journal contacted Mr Illman but he was unavailable for comment.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/07/11/war-horse-country-wind-turbine-application-totally-unacceptable/