School wins its turbine appeal

By krossiter keith rossiter political reporter

A SCHOOL has won its battle to build two controversial wind turbines.

Coombe Dean School in Plymstock was refused permission for the turbines at a Plymouth City Council planning committee meeting in July. The school immediately launched an appeal to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

Headteacher Pattrick Frean said: "We have ordered two turbines and hope to install them during the February half term."

The turbines will be installed next to the new English teaching block at the school in Charnhill Way, Elburton.

The school already has photovoltaic cells on the roof and a ground-source energy scheme.

Mr Frean said the output from the three systems would be displayed on a plasma screen so pupils could compare their efficiency.

"This is an educational mission. It happens to help the school to save money but these days you don't just tell children what to think – they have to be given the evidence," he said.

City council planning officers had recommended granting permission for the 20-metre turbines, but in a vote that divided along party lines, councillors rejected the application at a summer meeting.

Cllr Nicky Wildy, a Labour member of the planning committee, said yesterday: "This obviously begs a question. There was a lot of pressure on the chairman (John Lock), who also led the opposition to the plan. Here is a school taking its environmental responsibilities seriously and taking the education of its children seriously."

Cllr Lock, the Conservative committee chairman, denied he had been under pressure to refuse the application.

"The committee did not face any pressure from the party leadership whatsoever," said Cllr Lock, the member for Plympton Erle.

He also defended his committee's original decision, adding: "I'm disappointed that the inspector has allowed the appeal and I stand by the decision. It was the positioning of the turbines we objected to. If they had been moved further from the school and nearby houses I don't think there would have been any objection.

Luke Pollard, the Labour prospective parliamentary candidate for South West Devon, said the school had shown 'real leadership', adding: "I hope other Plymouth schools will follow Pattrick Frean's lead in showing our children how renewable, green and cheap energy produced locally can make a difference in tackling climate change.

"Plymouth needs more green energy not less and questions need to be asked why the Tory council refused planning permission without any grounds to do so."

The 15kW turbines will provide power for the school, with the aim of generating 20 to 25 per cent of its annual electricity consumption and the hope of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to 35 tonnes a year.

Residents claim the turbines will be an eyesore, too noisy and will pose a danger to health.

However, the planning inspector said: "I consider that, on balance, the limited visual harm would be clearly outweighed by the practical benefits to the school and the wider environmental, economic and social benefits."

Ian Sugden, a leading campaigner against the scheme, said the Planning Inspectorate's decision to allow the appeal was "extremely disappointing".

Norman Proctor, a turbine engineer from Plymstock who also opposed the application, said: "It will be a shame for the residents, who will have to endure the noise, called modulation and resonance. It's like a low beat of a drum that never stops."