Angry villagers fight wind farm plans
ANGRY residents gathered at a village hall to voice their
opposition to plans for Cornwall's biggest wind farm.
Last month, energy company Community Windpower submitted a
planning application for the biggest wind farm in the county,
planned for land around Crowdy Reservoir near Camelford in
North Cornwall.
Last night, Davidstow Parish Council held a public meeting
to discuss the plans at a packed Otterham village hall.
Campaigner Roy Hollander said: "I'm now beginning to believe
that North Cornwall has done its bit. It is high time that it
was moved to other coasts and other counties. The whole thing
is meeting Government targets. I've had enough. There will soon
be four million where I live... it's just not on. No more in
North Cornwall."
Jeremy Hooper, from St Breward, said: "Looking from St
Breward, I can see Row Tor and the idea of seeing wind turbines
above them is terrible."
He said the turbines were so large that the Government might
have to decide on the matter.
Alan Goodenough, a member of a local campaign group, said:
"There are already four wind farms in North Cornwall. One more
at Morwenstow has just been passed. We already put up 60 per
cent in the whole county. This would be an enormous addition.
We think we have done enough. It should stop here and this
should not be allowed.
If successful, the company's application will see 20
126m-high turbines, with 92.5m diameter rotor blades,
dominating the North Cornwall landscape for the next 25
years.
It would also be the only wind farm on Bodmin Moor.
Community Windpower said the electricity generated would
power 28,000 homes and provide electrical generation in the
South West.
The company also said it would also inject £62 million into
the local economy over the lifetime of the project.
Comments
by R. James, Launceston
Thursday, August 21 2008, 8:19AM
“Developing alternative energy supplies is essential. Opposition is purely fuelled by self interest. Arguments were "it will spoil my view" , so we're happy to carry on using coal with spoil tips spoiling the view of people elsewhere. "it will upset my horses when I go riding".. well I'm sorry most of us can't afford the luxury of horses!. "What's the point when China's constructing so many coal fired power stations" What a morally defunct argument that is! ...We shouldn't do the right thing because someone bigger is doing the wrong thing!. etc.. etc.. If the electricity generated stayed in Cornwall and it meant that N. Cornwall's residents electricity bills were halved the vast majority of people would be in favour. Surely as a modern, technologically advanced country we should be leading the way and setting an example.........an alternative? the whole of Cornwall turning yellow and covered in rape seed!!”