December 9, 2014
England

Battle lines drawn over new wind turbine plan

Cornish Guardian | December 09, 2014 | www.cornishguardian.co.uk

Plans for a 200-foot high wind turbine near Trelights have provoked a furious reaction from local residents.

The application was submitted to Cornwall Council only a few weeks ago but already more than 40 people have complained about the visual impact.

Somerset-based Murex Energy Ltd wants to build the turbine on land at Treswarrow Park Farm, close to a different site which in October was granted planning permission for a 40-acre solar farm.

The company’s letter in support of the wind turbine says: “The development will cause no significant harm in respect of any matter of material planning consideration and is supported through national guidance and specific local policies.

“The application provides considerable community benefit over and above the contribution the proposal would make to the generation of renewable and low carbon energy, a material consideration that should be given considerable weight.”

But apart from one letter of support from a neighbouring landowner, the overwhelming majority of public comments submitted so far are hostile to the idea.

John Phelps said: “This application will have a huge negative impact in an area of unspoilt coast and countryside that uses its natural beauty to attract visitors to an area that relies on tourism to provide employment.

“I imagine that David Cameron named his daughter Endellion after a place that he and his wife thought was beautiful. I’m sure he won’t name his next child Treswarrow after a noisy ugly wind turbine.”

Phillip and Daphne Gough agree. In a letter to the council on Monday they said: “We are objecting to this planning application at Treswarrow because it is for an industrial size turbine in completely the wrong place . The site is not only surrounded by outstanding countryside and listed building and churches but in a key area for North Cornwall tourism.”

Paul Blackiston said he was concerned about the size of the turbine. “It is huge and, as such, this structure will adversely dominate the surrounding area for miles around. The detrimental affect on the surrounding landscape and the historic buildings of St. Minver and St. Endellion churches will be significant.”

Plans for an even larger turbine at nearby Chapel Amble, which were refused by Cornwall Council two years ago, then allowed on appeal, and then quashed by a High Court judge, are to be the subject of a re-run public inquiry early next year.

Cornwall’s planners had originally hoped to determine the Treswarrow application this week, but now think that this too will be decided in the new year.

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URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/12/09/battle-lines-drawn-over-new-wind-turbine-plan/