Chris Monk
Well-known member
BBC News web site:
Dartmoor wind farm plan rejected
The proposed turbines were 266ft (81m) in height
Planners have rejected a proposal to build a wind turbine farm on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
West Coast Energy (WCE) said the three wind turbines proposed at Yelland could have powered 2,180 homes.
Planners said there would have been an adverse visual impact to the area. WCE said it was disappointed at the move.
But campaigners were celebrating. Ray Quirke, of Okehampton and Dartmoor Against Turbines (ODAT), said it was a "triumph of common sense".
'Very happy'
There were more than 1,500 letters of objection to the 266ft (81m) turbines being sited half a mile (0.8km) from the boundary of Dartmoor National Park.
West Coast Energy appealed against the first refusal of planning permission earlier this year, and a public inquiry was held.
Mr Quirke said ODAT members objected particularly to the location and the scale and style of the turbines.
"We are very happy indeed," he said.
"We are looking at it as a triumph of common sense and local democracy."
West Coast Energy said the turbines would have had a minimal effect on the surrounding area and would also have helped meet the government's renewable energy targets.
'Environmental imperative'
WCE managing director Gerry Jewson said the company felt it had selected an appropriate location in Devon for renewable energy generation.
He said: "The inspector's decision appears to attach limited weight to the statutory targets for renewable energy generation in Devon and the government's commitment to climate change.
"Given the environmental imperative, and the need to provide for secure and diverse forms of energy for the UK, the planning system has clearly not yet adjusted to the urgent tasks ahead of us."
Devon has been set a target of 151 megawatts of renewable energy to be generated by 2010.
It is currently only producing about 25 megawatts, roughly half what neighbouring Cornwall is producing.
Dartmoor wind farm plan rejected
The proposed turbines were 266ft (81m) in height
Planners have rejected a proposal to build a wind turbine farm on the edge of Dartmoor National Park.
West Coast Energy (WCE) said the three wind turbines proposed at Yelland could have powered 2,180 homes.
Planners said there would have been an adverse visual impact to the area. WCE said it was disappointed at the move.
But campaigners were celebrating. Ray Quirke, of Okehampton and Dartmoor Against Turbines (ODAT), said it was a "triumph of common sense".
'Very happy'
There were more than 1,500 letters of objection to the 266ft (81m) turbines being sited half a mile (0.8km) from the boundary of Dartmoor National Park.
West Coast Energy appealed against the first refusal of planning permission earlier this year, and a public inquiry was held.
Mr Quirke said ODAT members objected particularly to the location and the scale and style of the turbines.
"We are very happy indeed," he said.
"We are looking at it as a triumph of common sense and local democracy."
West Coast Energy said the turbines would have had a minimal effect on the surrounding area and would also have helped meet the government's renewable energy targets.
'Environmental imperative'
WCE managing director Gerry Jewson said the company felt it had selected an appropriate location in Devon for renewable energy generation.
He said: "The inspector's decision appears to attach limited weight to the statutory targets for renewable energy generation in Devon and the government's commitment to climate change.
"Given the environmental imperative, and the need to provide for secure and diverse forms of energy for the UK, the planning system has clearly not yet adjusted to the urgent tasks ahead of us."
Devon has been set a target of 151 megawatts of renewable energy to be generated by 2010.
It is currently only producing about 25 megawatts, roughly half what neighbouring Cornwall is producing.
