by Alan Quick

THIS week saw the arrival of the first component parts for the turbines to be built at the Den Brook Wind Farm between Bow, Spreyton and North Tawton.

Just six component parts from a total of 72 have been delivered to the site to date.

The 27 blades for the turbines will be delivered this week and next week, July 11-15 and the 27 base towers and nine nacelles will be delivered from July 19-22 and July 25-29.

The mid and top sections of the turbines will be delivered from August 1-5 and 8-11.

The turbines are being transported in sections from Avonmouth port. The final part of the journey to the site sees them leave the A30 to join the A382 at Whiddon Down.

The convoys join the A3124, using the new link road at Whiddon Down, and then at de Bathe Cross turn right on to the A3072 which is followed to the site entrance.

As the deliveries require large vehicles, each convoy has a dedicated escort to ensure safety for all road users.

Following feedback from the local community, RES says it has worked with turbine supplier Vestas to time the majority of the deliveries to avoid the early morning rush hour.

The aim is for the main daily convoy to be on site by 6.30am.

However, a small number of deliveries (normally up to two per turbine during the erection phase only) are to be delivered just in time for erection and will arrive at the site during the working day.

Residents are asked to keep the public highway clear of parked cars during this period if possible.

For up-to-date information on the progress of deliveries, please visit the website: www.den-brook.co.uk .

The nacelle is the boxlike structure at the top of the tower that houses the gearbox and generator.

A leaflet with information about the turbine deliveries has been sent to all residents in South Tawton, North Tawton, Bow, Spreyton, Zeal Monachorum and Drewsteignton.

Advance warning has also gone to statutory consultees (including emergency services/schools, etc) and local businesses.

The wind farm of nine 120 metre high (to the tip of the blade) turbines will have an installed capacity of 18 megawatts of renewable electricity.

RES says this is sufficient to meet the annual average needs of approximately 9,000 UK homes. It says the homes equivalent has been calculated by multiplying the wind farm’s predicted energy yield of 37.55GWh by the 2013 UK annual household energy consumption data published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (4128kWh).

RES will erect the turbines from August to November and they will then be brought into operation in November.

A community benefit fund will begin operation when the wind farm is operational.

Local residents fear property prices may drop once the turbines are built and have expressed other concerns about noise and visual aspect.