Cornwall

Stop further wind farms from blighting the countryside

CPRE Cornwall has now set up a website at 10 Downing Street that petitions the Prime Minister to call a halt to the increasing number of wind farms.  The petition can be viewed on:   

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/Stop-wind-farms/

I hope all members agree with the sentiments of the petition and will sign it, as well as to also inform as many people as possible about it.

At the present time, there are proposals for several new wind farms to be established in North Cornwall around Bodmin Moor.   So unless those that enjoy the beauty and tranquillity of the Cornish countryside and coastline act now to prevent the proposed installations, a part of Cornwall that is open and wild will be lost forever.

Please Act Now

and Sign the Petition and encourage others to do so as well

Ted Venn

6^th September 2008

Planning Application to build another Wind Farm near Davidstow in North Cornwall

A planning application has been lodged with North Cornwall District Council for a 20-turbine wind farm at Davidstow near the old airfield and Crowdy Reservoir.  With the height of each turbine measuring 126 metres, the proposed wind farm would be clearly visible from much of Bodmin Moor, and particularly from Roughtor and Brown Willy.  The site is situated between two existing wind farms; Cold Northcott (with 22 turbines) and Delabole (with 10 turbines).  To make matters worse two more wind farms are proposed close to Davidstow: at Otterham close to the A39 (5 turbines) and at Tich Barrow (4 turbines) - the latter being merely two miles from the Davidstow site.  If all the proposed wind farms were approved, there would be 61 turbines in this part of Cornwall.  It also has to be noted that around Davidstow much of the countryside is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).  Furthermore, the site of the proposed Davidstow Wind Farm is partly within an Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).  Another negative feature is that the height of the turbines would be clearly visible from the Heritage Coast of North Cornwall.  Details of all the various applications for wind farms can be found on the Internet.  The planning reference issued by North Cornwall District Council is 2008/01432.

Residents in the area around Davidstow are appalled at the proliferation of wind farms in their locality, and two organisations have been set up to fight the plans for further wind farms; Stop Turbines in North Cornwall (STINC) and Group Against Windfarm Proliferation (GAWP).  Apart from the fact that further wind turbines are not wanted, the groups organising resistance (STINC and GAWP) are concerned over misleading statements and montages provided by the applicant, as these tend to minimise the impact of the 20 turbines proposed for Davidstow.  Representatives from CPRE Cornwall attended a meeting of STINC on September 1^st at the invitation of that organisation.  It was clear that opposition to the proposals for more wind farms in North Cornwall is well organised with both pro-active and re-active measures being taken by STINC.  As North Cornwall District Council has set a deadline of September 25^th for objections about the proposed scheme to be received, the most urgent matter is for organisations and individuals against the proposed wind farm to make their views known.  With this in mind, STINC urged those against more wind farms in North Cornwall to write to North Cornwall District Council and their MPs now to express their views and set out their objections.

Further details about STINC and the proposed wind farms at Davidstow and Otterham can be found on the following websites:

http://www.stinc.co.uk/

www.stinc.co.uk/davidstow.shtml

www.stinc.co.uk/otterham.htm

Letters of objection should be sent to North Cornwall District Council Planning Department at 3 - 5 Barn Lane, Bodmin PL31 1LZ.  Alternatively, objections can be e-mailed using This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

So, PLEASE ACT NOW! 

Remember that renewable energy in the form of wind turbines is not that effective and is costly, with the taxpayer funding a proportion of each turbine.  Remember, too, that these schemes are being pushed through during a period of local government reform in Cornwall, and that the names given to both existing and proposed wind farms are purposely vague and misleading in order to confuse.  The Government's determination to build more and more wind turbines, both on-shore and off-shore, is due to internationally agreed targets to reduce carbon emissions and is without any other consideration.

We do need to consider the UK's energy needs for the future.  There should be sufficient and reliable sources of energy and these should be secure from interference by other countries.  Renewable energy is an ideal solution, but not at the expense of our countryside and the health of its residents.  Perhaps more attention should be given to hydro-electricity and solar power.

Ted Venn

5^th September 2008