LOCATION/TYPE

NEWS HOME

[ exact phrase in "" • results by date ]

[ Google-powered • results by relevance ]


Archive
RSS

Add NWW headlines to your site (click here)

Get weekly updates

WHAT TO DO
when your community is targeted

RSS

RSS feeds and more

Keep Wind Watch online and independent!

Donate via Paypal

Donate via Stripe

Selected Documents

All Documents

Research Links

Alerts

Press Releases

FAQs

Campaign Material

Photos & Graphics

Videos

Allied Groups

Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005.

News Watch Home

Uproar in village as council backs 45m turbine plan 

Credit:  By David Shepherd | Mid Devon Gazette | July 09, 2013 | www.thisisdevon.co.uk ~~

A special meeting has been arranged so that objectors can air their views over a controversial plan to construct a turbine on the Exe Valley skyline – six weeks after the proposal was submitted to Mid Devon District Council.

Derek Cole wants to put up the 45m structure at Queensborough Farm, near Silverton.

Opponents claim it will be visible from as far as Tiverton if the scheme is given the go ahead.

The plan has caused “uproar” in the village, it has been claimed. But Silverton Parish Council backed it at a meeting last month, when many residents say they should have been consulted.

Cllr Geoffrey Knowles, the council’s acting chairman, said: “The initial vote at a meeting in June was in favour.

“New information became available and plans were re-submitted with new documents which were not available to us at that point in time.

“We have agreed a site visit should be made in view of that new information and a public meeting is to be held later in the month so possible objectors can make further representation.

Cllr Knowles added: “It is down to residents of the parish to make their views known to the council and no representations were made to Silverton Parish Council for our June meeting.”

A number of residents fear the turbine, which is earmarked for land between Butterleigh, Bradninch and Silverton, will change the nature of the valley.

Robert Fyfe, from Leigh Barton, Silverton, fears the development will set a precedent and told the Gazette it will be visible from the M5, Cadeleigh, Thorverton and across to Tiverton.

Duncan Harrington, an ex-chairman of the parish council, said in an objection letter to the planning authority: “As a former chairman, I am utterly bemused at the parish council’s ill-considered decision to support this application and note with interest the council’s attempts to back track on the decision.”

Mr Cole wants to build the structure on his land to reduce his carbon footprint and to save on his energy bills in order to increase investment in the business.

A design statement, drawn up by Mr Cole’s agent, GVA, states: “The proposed wind turbine will combat rising electricity costs associated with farm operations ensuring the property, and enterprise, will have power for lighting, heating and machinery into the future.

“It will provide security of electricity supply and deliver environmental and sustainable benefits to both the farmer owner and the wider community, and will lower the farm’s carbon footprint and secure cost savings which will allow for increased future re-investment in the farm business.”

If planning permission is given by Mid Devon District Council, the turbine will have the capacity to generate 225kw of clean energy.

GVA also told the planning authority that the structure will not have an adverse impact on the surrounding landscape.

The meeting will be held in the Millennium Hall on Wednesday, July 24, at 7.30 pm.

Source:  By David Shepherd | Mid Devon Gazette | July 09, 2013 | www.thisisdevon.co.uk

This article is the work of the source indicated. Any opinions expressed in it are not necessarily those of National Wind Watch.

The copyright of this article resides with the author or publisher indicated. As part of its noncommercial educational effort to present the environmental, social, scientific, and economic issues of large-scale wind power development to a global audience seeking such information, National Wind Watch endeavors to observe “fair use” as provided for in section 107 of U.S. Copyright Law and similar “fair dealing” provisions of the copyright laws of other nations. Send requests to excerpt, general inquiries, and comments via e-mail.

Wind Watch relies entirely
on User Funding
   Donate via Paypal
(via Paypal)
Donate via Stripe
(via Stripe)

Share:

e-mail X FB LI TG TG Share


News Watch Home

Get the Facts
CONTACT DONATE PRIVACY ABOUT SEARCH
© National Wind Watch, Inc.
Use of copyrighted material adheres to Fair Use.
"Wind Watch" is a registered trademark.

 Follow:

Wind Watch on X Wind Watch on Facebook

Wind Watch on Linked In Wind Watch on Mastodon