November 18, 2015
England

Parish councils across the Rame Peninsula are opposed to a proposed wind turbine

Cornish Guardian | November 17, 2015 | www.cornishguardian.co.uk

Parish councils across the Rame Peninsula have rallied in opposition to a proposed 67-metre-high wind turbine.

St John, Millbrook, Anthony, Maker with Rame and Sheviock parish councils have opposed the planning application for a turbine near Withnoe Lane, between the villages of Freathy and St John.

The result of the application will be determined by November 25.

In a response to the application St John Parish Council said: “The proposed 67m high turbine would have an adverse effect on the landscape of the Rame Peninsula and would contravene policies in both the current Caradon Local Plan and the emerging Rame Peninsula Neighbourhood Development Plan.”

More than 400 public comments have also replied to the application with the majority in opposition. Robin Doyle said: “To start a wind farm on the peninsula is to invite what will be a present or potential eye-sore in a unique area.”

Sally North also wrote in objection to the proposal. She said: “At a stroke the landscape will become industrialised. The area is one of rural communities separated by farmland and woodland with extensive views as far as Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor.

“It is further enhanced by views of the sea and an attractive coastline of cliffs and pasture. Even one turbine placed in this environment will destroy the beauty of it and will probably encourage the building of more.”

The National Trust have also opposed the application. Spokesperson Michael Calder said: “Within a 5km radius of the site the Trust owns two stretches of coastline between Crafthole and Rame Head, these being at Trethill Cliffs, south east of Crafthole, and Tregantle Cliff/Sharrow Point, west of Freathy.

“The trust contends that from the SWCP at the eastern end of Trethill Cliffs the turbine would detract from an appreciation of the historic landmark of Tregantle Fort.

The plans are a joint venture between David Turner and renewable energy co-operative Community Power Cornwall. Mr Turner said the turbine would not be seen by many houses in the opposing parishes.

“The reason I did it is because it is in an excellent site with good wind speed,” he said. “Although everyone’s kicked off it can’t really be seen from St John.

“There’s just a few houses that may be able to see it but there aren’t many. The properties that can see it are part of the Whitsand Bay Fort Holiday Park

“I thought it’s quite a good place to put a turbine. We had guidance from the council to start with and that didn’t put me off.

“The benefits from it are it is going to the local grid not the national grid. So it would be going into the peninsula.”

He added there would be a community fund for the life of the turbine which would provide approximately £500,000 for the local area.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2015/11/18/parish-councils-across-the-rame-peninsula-are-opposed-to-a-proposed-wind-turbine/