Pleas to 'embrace' new windfarm plan

DEVELOPERS behind a planned multi-million pound windfarm at Davidstow have hit back at their critics.

They have also denied accusations that they misled members of the public with photographs submitted.

Gillian Cropper, projects manager for Community Windpower Ltd, which seeks to build 20 turbines, 126.5 metres high to their tip, said it was time for people to make the transition and embrace the scheme which would bring investment to the area.

The application for Davidstow Community Windfarm is expected to be decided by Cornwall Council's strategic planning committee when it meets in Camelford on October 13 at 6pm.

Mrs Cropper said the proposed windfarm would provide a significant and positive boost to renewable electricity generation in Cornwall and also bring with it considerable investment for the local community, Cornwall and the South West region.

"Over £55 million will be initially invested if the scheme is given the go-ahead. This multi-million pound investment would facilitate the development and construction of the windfarm scheme, with preference given to Cornish and south western companies for the necessary supply and construction contracts.

"Locally, Davidstow Community Windfarm would provide an investment of £1.5 million each and every year of operation through the payment of rates, rents, electrical connections, turbine servicing, windfarm site maintenance and through the funding of community benefits.

"This would equate to a total investment of over £92 million in the Cornwall area. Community benefits of at least £150,000 per year would be available for the communities of the Camelford and Davidstow area. Of this, £50,000 would be donated to BeGreen Camelford annually to provide advice and top-up funding for energy efficiency and saving measures in the area and the remaining sum would be used to fund the educational ranger, green electricity voucher scheme, local environmental and community projects, school trips and other local requirements.

Mrs Cropper said the development will create seven jobs and would be a valuable investment.

"Without approval of the windfarm the Camelford and Davidstow area would miss out on this significant and important financial investment which will provide a secure and sustainable renewable energy resource in the Cornwall area; it is time for people to make the difficult transition and embrace the scheme."

Anti-windfarm groups have been highly critical of the supplied photomontages which accompany the planning application stating that they are misleading and say the application will be an intrusion on the landscape.

The developers admit the wind turbines will be visible from parts of the surrounding landscape including the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty but point out that windfarms at Delabole and Cold Northcott are also visible.

Mrs Cropper said the images used were photographs but were images of turbines elsewhere which had been superimposed onto images of local areas and locations.

"These show the proposed turbines superimposed upon existing views of the landscape from a number of locations"

The applicants say no visualisation is an exact match.