10.01.08 - press release: savenorthdevon.com launched
TURBINE FIGHT GROWS
16th January 2008
WIND turbines on the fringes of Exmoor have been condemned as an eyesore by Britain's oldest national conservation society. The Open Spaces Society has submitted hard-hitting criticism of applications for wind farms at Knowstone, South Molton, and Bickham Moor, near Oakford.
"We are dismayed that the wind energy companies keep applying to erect turbines in this part of North Devon," said Kate Ashbrook, the society's general secretary. There are already two outstanding applications nearby, at Batsworthy Cross and Cross Moor. If all were to be allowed, there would be 25 turbines surrounding the southern fringes of the Exmoor National Park.
"These turbines will be visible from hills around and, in particular, from the popular southern hills of Exmoor, an area of immense natural beauty. The paraphernalia that accompanies the turbines will also be an eyesore." Mrs Ashbrook argues that "People's enjoyment of this area will be severely impaired. "This tranquil, unspoilt area of North Devon cannot accommodate such an intrusion. Its intimate character will be destroyed." The charity said it had urged North Devon and Mid Devon District Councils to reject the proposals.
A website - www.savenorthdevon.com - has been launched to help the fight against wind turbine developments. It aims to give people in North Devon access to independent information and research regarding wind power and turbines so that they can make an informed choice when it comes to supporting or opposing them.
The site's creator, Laura Holt from Langtree, said: "North Devon is currently being targeted by several wind power developers, who in turn are exploiting the general public's lack of understanding regarding wind turbines, their efficiency, and their effect on rural communities and the environment. This new website aims to give people access to the information that the developers don't give." She said the site would also provide guidance for groups on how to oppose wind turbine applications and offer help setting up a website. "New opposition groups tend to set up their own webpage, often duplicating efforts and spending a great deal of time collating and verifying information."
Jessie Morton, spokesperson for newly-formed Witheridge-based Stop Pilliven Industrial Turbines (SPIT), said: "The Save North Devon website has been a great source of advice and information, and created a Pilliven campaign page for us within days."
Bob Barfoot, chairman of the North Devon branch of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE), said savenorthdevon.com was a valuable public tool. "We welcome any opportunity for the public to gather information from all sides of this debate. It is only by doing so that the public can make an informed judgement."
Latest News: Natural England saves the day for Galsworthy residents
29th February 2008: Torridge District Council Planning Committee today voted overwhelmingly to refuse Ecotricity planning permission for four 100m high turbines on land between Stibb Cross and Bulkworthy.
At the meeting of the Plans Committee the members voted to support their officer’s recommendation to object to the proposal. The recommendation recognised that the turbines would be a significant threat to bats and would also mean the removal of an unacceptable amount of Devon hedge bank.
Laura Holt from Savenorthdevon.com, who spoke at the planning meeting on behalf of the Galsworthy residents says ‘Ecotricity plays the green card and likes us to believe that they are saving the world from the effects of climate change, when in fact they are simply cashing in on generous government subsidies and exploiting the general publics lack of understanding regarding wind turbines.
‘Wind farms do little towards saving carbon emissions but they are a very profitable investment for the developers, naturally we expect Ecotricity will come back with a revised application, and we’re already preparing for this. The ROC system of subsidies is diverting funds away from less damaging and more reliable sources of renewable energy technology such as offshore and tidal. Savenorthdevon.com is committed to addressing the problem of climate change through the reduction of energy consumption and the development of reliable, renewable sources of energy for the future.
The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform estimates that by 2010, the very large number of wind turbines installed will achieve total CO2 savings of less than 2% of the UKs emissions. This very modest saving would cost the UK consumer nearly £1 billion per year via the Renewables Obligation and would see our beautiful countryside littered with wind turbines. The fact that the intermittent nature of wind power generation requires constant back up from traditional power generation sources means that onshore wind power will never make a significant impact on reducing our current CO2 emissions.
Speaking after the meeting Bob Barfoot, Chairman of CPRE for North Devon, welcomed the decision. He said that “CPRE is delighted at the strong stance taken by the committee over this issue. We support the drive to decrease the dependence of the UK on fossil fuels, but renewable energy schemes must be appropriately sited. There is a danger that, in an attempt to solve wider environmental issues, inappropriate schemes such as this could cause local environmental problems.”
He continued that “Planning committees have a difficult task in judging the balance of the benefits of a scheme such as this against the harm which would be done to the environment. In this case the committee decided that the harm outweighed the benefits.”
Campaigners against a series of wind farms have been backed by a new website.
The site, www.savenorthdevon.com, which was officially launched yesterday, is the first in the Westcountry to provide one site for all the anti-wind farm campaigns in the area.
Creator Laura Holt said: "New opposition groups tend to set up their own web page, often duplicating efforts and spending a great deal of time collating and verifying information.