MP SAYS TURBINES WILL ‘DISFIGURE SOME OF OUR MOST BEAUTIFUL LOCAL LANDSCAPE’

WORK to construct Den Brook Wind Farm, a nine turbine project between North Tawton, Spreyton and Bow in West Devon, will begin on Monday, August 17, developer RES (Renewable Energy Systems Ltd) has confirmed – but Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, says he is “very disappointed” the scheme is going ahead and added: "These turbines will disfigure some of our most beautiful local landscape and are hugely unwelcome."

The MP, who has spoken out about the scheme over many years, made the comments exclusively to the “Courier” after hearing that works will begin in the next few days.

Once completed, RES says the wind farm will be capable of generating enough renewable electricity to meet the average annual requirements of almost 9,000 homes.

The company also says it will deliver £90,000 per year in community benefits over its lifetime, including a Community Fund to support local projects and RES’ Local Electricity Discount Scheme (LEDS).

LEDS offers eligible properties within 2.3km of the 120-metre high turbines a £108 annual discount off their electricity bills.

Initial on-site works will include completion of the access tracks leading to the turbine locations, followed by foundation laying.

Turbine delivery and erection is scheduled for the summer of 2016 and a period of testing and commissioning will then follow.

If all goes according to plan, RES says the Den Brook Wind Farm will be completed and generating renewable electricity before the end of next year.

WHIDDON DOWN LINK ROAD

The first few months of on-site preparations at Den Brook Wind Farm will run in parallel with the construction of a new link road at Whiddon Down.

The new road will improve the junction between the A382 and the A3124. Although the new road is not essential for turbine deliveries, RES has undertaken these works as an additional community benefit in order to improve traffic flow, visibility and road safety. Work here is expected to begin on October 5, with completion by Christmas 2015.

Rob Kemeys, RES project manager says: “The Whiddon Down road improvement works will include temporary traffic lights to ensure the safety of road users and our workers.

“There will also be a brief closure of the A3124 towards the end of the works to enable the new link road to be joined to the existing road.

“We will share more information about timings wherever possible as the road improvements progress.”

Local companies interested in offering their services during construction of the wind farm or the new link road are invited to contact RES direct.

Opportunities range from general labouring to materials supplies and electrical works. There are also opportunities for people with rooms or accommodation to let.

HISTORY OF THE PLAN

RES submitted a planning application for an anemometer to West Devon Borough Council in June 2004.

In October and November 2004 RES undertook noise measurements at two nearby houses.

The planning application for Den Brook Wind Farm was submitted to West Devon Borough Council in November 2005.

RES were granted planning permission in February 2007 after a full public inquiry. A legal challenge was lodged by opponents to the scheme in March 2007 and was dismissed in the High Court in February 2008.

Leave to appeal was granted and consent for the project was quashed in July 2008.

The second public inquiry was held in autumn 2009 and consent was granted in December 2009.

A legal challenge was lodged in January 2010 and was dismissed in the High Court in July 2010.

There have been other legal challenges made and more recently RES was found guilty by the Advertising Standards Authority of publishing false claims about the amount of power the wind farm would provide when built.

OPPOSITION

Opponents of the plan for the wind farm have included many local residents, some who formed the Den Brook Judicial Review Group and a previous opposition group, Den Brook Valley Action Group.

In December 2005 Den Brook Valley Action Group presented West Devon Borough Council with 3,000 letters of objection to the plan.

Opponents have cited many reasons including “blight” on the landscape, noise, “flicker” effect, proximity of one turbine to a rail line (one turbine is to be built so close to a rail line that if it came down it could land across the rail line), damage to wildlife and particularly birds, “industrialisation of the countryside”, proximity to Dartmoor, sleep disturbance, stress and health issues, property sale losses and others.

Recently Den Brook Judicial Review Group said it would be monitoring the noise from the turbines when built and would make the noise available to listeners via the internet.

RES says that the countdown to greener energy and £2.25 million in direct community benefits begin on Monday with the start of the construction process.

It adds that updates about construction progress and associated traffic management will be posted on the project website: www.den-brook.co.uk .

• Are you pleased that construction of the Den Brook Wind Farm is to go ahead? Will you be adversely affected or do you think it is a good idea? Share your thoughts with fellow “Courier” readers. Send a letter to the Editorial Manager or email: [email protected] .