A VARIATION of conditions has been submitted to repostition one of three turbines that were recently erected on land at Nethercott Farm in Tetcott — even though local residents have raised concerns over the proximity of all three turbines to the road.

The original application was for three 77m-high wind turbines to be erected at Nethercott farmland on the Tetcott Manor Estate. When the original application was made the chair of Torridge District Council’s plan committee Cllr Rosemary Lock, said ‘there were no planning reasons for refusal.’

Devon County Councillor Barry Parsons said he has ‘never been pro wind turbines’ but was initially in favour of this application. He said: “I initially supported this application after the overwhelming support that was given to it by the local residents who felt the turbines would benefit their energy needs.”

Both the Tetcott and Luffincott parish councils agreed to support the proposal, submitting the following comment: ‘After lengthy discussions, both Tetcott and Luffincott Parish Council’s unanimously support this application and strongly recommend approval.’

A tenant of the Tetcott Manor also submitted his support for the proposal explaining the benefits the new wind turbines would have, he said: “I write in full support of the proposed turbines at Nethercott on the Tetcott Estate, the visual effect will be minimal.

“I recently had a grand-daughter born, it makes me think of the energy supply for her future. William and Carlyn Molesworth—St Aubyn [owners of the Tetcott Estate] are trying to support the viability of Tetcott Estate for the future this is part of the scheme.

“I am a tenant on the estate and I appreciate the investment that needs to be made in the estate just to keep the houses and farms in reasonable repair, especially when farm incomes are so low. So an income from the turbines does two things: one, helps the environment, two is vital to the future of Tetcott Estate.”

However, like many local residents, Cllr Parsons has since taken an objective stance when he discovered the proximity to the road the turbines would have. He said: “Since things have progressed I have realised these turbines have not been completed to the government’s own standards of safety, with two of the three not meeting the guidelines for the minimum distance from a road.”

The Highways sections of Torridge District Council’s report, published on July 3, 2014, said that ‘at the nearest point the turbines would be 130-metres from the classified road, therefore they are considered to be sufficient fall over distance from the highway to safeguard highway safety’.

Cllr Parsons added: “A turbine should be, according to the ‘best practice guideline’ set out by the government, set back 130m from a main road or the turbines height plus 10%. One turbine at Tetcott is 60m back and the other 80m — this is clearly not adhering to the guidelines.”

Penny Mills, of CPRE Devon, raised concerns over the turbines siting, she said: “We are aware of many concerns regarding the siting of the turbines at the Nethercott Wind Farm, Tetcott/Ashwater, which appear to be sited too close to the road.

“Best practice guidance in respect of wind turbines near public highways is that there should be a minimum distance between the turbine and the road of the height of the turbine to blade tip plus 50m for major roads and height of the turbine to blade tip for other roads, because of safety reasons to do with fall over etc.”

On Torridge’s planning website the latest round of planning permissions being sought for the site is: “Variation of condition 2 (plans schedule) of planning permission 1/0036/2014/FULM in relation to the built location of Turbine 3.”

One resident of Ashwater commented on the latest application for the variation of conditions. He said: “First of all I am really concerned that the variation of planning is only for Turbine 3 when both Turbine 1 and 2 are well outside of the permitted distance from the A388.

“The committee report from Jenni Pine dated July 3, 2014 clearly states ‘at the nearest point the turbines would be 130 metres from the classified road therefore they are considered to be sufficient fall over distance from the highway to safeguard highway safety’.”

Another resident commented on the updated plans: “I would comment from observation living very close to these turbines that two of the said turbines have been placed much too close to the A388.

“If they were to fall they would endanger road users and livestock in this area. They have not been erected at the distance originally agreed in the original planning application.”

The public has until Thursday, February 16, to submit comments to this latest planning application on Torridge District Council’s planning website.