PLANS for four wind turbines to be erected on land at Dunsland Cross were refused by Torridge District Council's Plans Committee last Thursday.

A meeting was held at Bradford and Cookbury Village Hall to determine the application which had been submitted by Bolsterstone Innovative Energy (Holsworthy) Ltd.

The application sought full planning permission for the erection of four wind turbines on land at Dunsland Cross, south of Brandis Corner, Holswor­thy.

Bradford and Cook­bury, Ashwater, Black Torring­ton and Halwill Parish Councils all objected to the plans. A total of 399 representations were received in connection with the application — 250 objecting to the plans and 149 in support.

Concerns included the adverse impact of the turbines on wildlife, livestock, the adjoining SSSI, tourism, nearby business and house values, as well as the adverse visual impact of the turbines.

Those in support felt the site had good natural screening and commented on the benefits of wind turbines in terms of tackling climate change.

Torridge District Coun­cil's Planning Officers had recommended the plans for refusal. The reasons given included the applicant's failure to demonstrate that there would not be an unacceptable impact on the amenity of nearby residents by virtue of noise, on the wildlife and ecology of the area, on the cultural heritage of the area or that it would not have an adverse visual impact on the area.

Councillors voted in favour of the recommendation for refusal.

The Dunsland Turbines Opposition Group (DTOG) commend them for their decision. A spokesman for the group said: "They have shown fairness and due diligence in assessing this application and have shown that the planning system is still robust enough to protect residents and wildlife from inappropriate developments such as the wind farm proposed for Dunsland Cross. They have rejected this application despite being under intense pressure from Central Government to push such schemes through.

"This decision sends out a clear signal to other would-be speculators like Bolsterstone, the property and investments management company behind this proposal. It was clear right from the start that this site had too many constraints, but only the landowner and the developer were unable to see this.

"DTOG had to go from a standing start on this application. Now, ten months later, it is an organisation which has knowledge and expertise of its own in all aspects of onshore wind farm development.

"DTOG will now be a permanent fixture at Dunsland Cross, ready to examine closely any appeals or other applications which may be forthcoming. In the meantime it will work hard to mend the rifts which this proposal has caused and will give its full support to the parish council in its efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the residents, by encouraging more appropriate, cost-effective renewable energy generation and energy saving schemes for our community."

A separate application submitted by Bolsterstone Innovation Energy for the installation of a meterologoical testing mast to evaluate the wind resource at Brandis Corner, was approved by the plans committee last Thursday.