A FUNDRAISING Sunday lunch at Week St Mary Parish Hall attracted more than 150 people and raised £2,000 for Communities Against Rural Exploitation (CARE).

The group is in opposition to the Big Field Wind Farm — plans for eleven wind turbines by Wiltshire-based renewable energy company Good Energy.

Good Energy’s original proposal for the Big Field Wind Farm was refused planning permission by Cornwall Council in October 2014. A planning inquiry is set to consider Good Energy’s appeal against Cornwall Council’s refusal — the inquiry is set to start at Launceston Town Hall on April 26.

The wind turbines, if allowed, would be sited on farmland between Week St Mary, Jacobstow, Warbstow, North Petherwin and Whitstone.

More than 150 local people met for Sunday lunch in Week St Mary Parish Hall to raise funds.

The event was one of a wide range of activities run by individuals and groups wanting to raise the £40,000 needed to put together a team of professionals to defend Cornwall Council’s refusal of the Big Field Wind Farm at the forthcoming planning inquiry.

Events have included also a prize draw for a new car, garden open days, cream teas, quiz nights, a race night, sponsored foot massages, auction and a sponsored Tour de Turbines cycle ride.

CARE Chairman, Richard Sowerby said: “We have been humbled by the generosity of local people, many of whom have made significant sacrifices to do their bit. Our communities are quite small, so it was a huge amount of money to raise but everyone has really pulled together. It shows how important this is to local people.”

At the planning inquiry, a Planning Inspector will hear evidence from Good Energy, Cornwall Council and the CARE Group, who are joined by Boyton, Jacobstow, Marhamchurch, North Tamerton, Week St Mary and Whitstone Parish Councils as the Rule 6 Party.

CARE Committee Member Jeremy Ward said: “We have set out from the outset to do our very best to ensure local opinion is heard by those people making the decisions.”

The inquiry is open to the public, starts at Launceston Town Hall on April 26 at 10am and is expected to last six to nine days. People who wish to speak are advised to attend and register on the first morning. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and can drop in when they choose.

James Ryle, communities manager at Good Energy said: “We maintain this is an excellent site for a wind farm that can make an important contribution towards the UK’s carbon reduction obligations and renewable electricity targets, while delivering significant benefits to the local community and to Cornwall’s green economy.

“We’re confident we have addressed all the material planning issues raised by the local community and other consultees in response to our earlier planning application, and look forward to making the case for the wind farm to the planning inspector at the inquiry.

“We know there is a strong body of local support for the project, including some of the residents living closest to the site, so we hope the message will come across to the planning inspector that the opponents of the scheme don’t speak for everyone in the community.”