THE owners of a yoga centre near Brandis Corner, Holsworthy fear they may be forced to move if wind turbines are erected just over 400 metres away, which would result in the loss of dozens of local jobs.

The British School of Yoga (BSY), based at the old Dunsland Cross railway station, fear they may have to move away to escape the disturbance.

Bolsterstone Innovative Energy (Holsworthy) Ltd have submitted an application to Torridge District Council seeking permission to erect four turbines, each 105 metres high, and ancillary development on land at Dunsland Cross, south of Brandis Corner.

Proprietor of BSY, Philip Laniado, who employs 38 local people, said: "Our tranquil and attractive location in the Ruby Country for this business was very carefully selected.

"The damaging impact that this turbine development would undoubtedly have will probably lead to us closing this office and moving out of Devon, resulting in up to 38 job losses directly and countless others indirectly.

"The developer's own noise readings indicate that the estimated noise levels on my property would be 43 decibels.

"As the limit is 43 decibels there is no margin for error. I therefore have concerns about the health implications for my staff who would be in such close proximity."

BSY Principal, Ann Williams, who lives at Dunsland Cross, said: "We chose this peaceful, lovely location because of the potential to develop a natural health centre, welcoming visitors from all over the UK to yoga festivals, stress management and relaxation workshops, aromatherapy, reflexology, yoga and pilates classes.

"The proposed development has changed everything and no further investment is likely to take place until the outcome is known with certainty. A development of this scale crammed into a relatively small field area next to us, creating a massive visual and noise impact with all the adverse health implications related to sleep disturbance etc, would make it impossible."

However Amy Wood­gate from Bolsterstone Plc said: "We understand that the British School of Yoga is a business selling various home education courses, from yoga through to sports and fitness and business management, and is a neighbour to the main objector to the scheme.

"The business is situated beside the A3079. Many businesses operate with wind turbines adjacent to their premises, not several hundred metres away as in this instance and I have not heard of any instance of lost jobs due to noise issues.

"An extract from the government's companion guide to PPS22, which advises planning authorities about renewable energy projects, puts the situation into context.

"It advises the following average noise levels in decibels: A truck at 30 mph at 100m — 65; Busy general office — 60; A car at 40 mph at 100m — 55; Wind farm at 350m — 35-45.

"As can be seen from the above it is likely that a property 30 to 40m away from an A road as in this case (as opposed to 100m from it as per the above indication), will already experience far higher levels of noise, not from a single lorry or car, but from a constant passage of them, than anything that they will experience from a windfarm some several hundred metres away. Especially when there is considerable shielding from a belt of forestry between the turbines and the premises.

"If people are concerned about noise, they should take the trouble to visit a modern wind farm, they would realise how groundless these fears are."

A 311-page objections report by Dunsland Turbines Opposition Group — who commissioned an independent noise report from one of the UK's leading acousticians — has been sent to Torridge District Council.

There will be a special Torridge District Council plans committee meeting on the morning of Thursday, March 12 to consider the wind turbine application and monitoring mast at Dunsland Cross. The meeting will be held at Bradford and Cookbury Village Hall at 10am.