October 4, 2014
England

Huge wind turbines will be ‘sympathetic to prehistoric monuments’

Cornish Guardian | October 03, 2014 | www.cornishguardian.co.uk

Plans are about to be submitted for another wind farm near St Columb Major.

Berkshire-based Coriolis Energy Ltd is to apply for permission to build five large turbines at Scotland Corner, which is just to the north of the Nine Maidens ancient standing stones on the edge of Rosenannon Downs.

It will be the latest of several wind farm or single turbine applications to have come before Cornwall Council in recent years for land just off the main A39 road south of Wadebridge. Many applications have been approved, but not yet developed.

The Coriolis application will be for five 110-metre-tall turbines, close to the existing St Breock and Bears Down wind farms.

An online consultation says the Scotland Corner wind farm would produce up to 30,000MW of electricity each year, sufficient to power approximately 5,630 homes.

Coriolis is also offering “community benefits”, including:

*an annual payment made to a trust fund to support community projects

*reduction in green electricity bills for near neighbours if they sign up to a green energy tariff

*opportunity to invest in the wind farm and receive returns from its income via shares in a community co-operative scheme

*a combination of all of the above.

A statement on the company’s website says: “We would welcome thoughts from the local community on which of the above options would be of interest to people living in the vicinity of Scotland Corner, or if there are other options that should be considered.”

The project is currently at the stage of an Environmental Impact Assessment, part of which is likely to include any effect on the surrounding ancient landscape.

The nearby Nine Maidens Neolithic stone row is the largest of its kind in Cornwall. Legend says nine maidens were turned into stone as punishment for dancing on a Sunday. A megalith known as the Fiddler, just north of the row, is said to be the petrified remains of the musician who played for the dancers.

Both sites are within the area identified for the wind farm development.

Coriolis project manager James Hopkins said part of the application addressed ways to improve and enhance these ancient sites.

“We are keen to help provide better access and interpretation of these areas,” he said.

“Our design team has taken a very sympathetic approach, including the issue of other wind farms and turbines in the area.”

Local town and parish councils will be asked to comment in the weeks ahead. Coriolis Energy has set up an online consultation at http://www.scotlandcornerwindfarm.co.uk/

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/10/04/huge-wind-turbines-will-be-sympathetic-to-prehistoric-monuments/