NORTH Devon's first wind farm at Forestmoor in Bradworthy hosted a regional conference to discuss the future of wind turbine applications.

Regen South West and the British Wind Energy Association hosted the event to look at how the planning system can better cope with dealing with wind farm applications.

It was attended by Adam Symons, ward councillor for Bradworthy.

He said: "Getting the planning of wind farms right is obviously a key issue for many people in the area.

"The Forestmoor wind farm and subsequent local applications have been very controversial, and have led to a review on how we deal with wind farms through the planning system.

"This conference has helped to spread good practice and show that Torridge District Council is at the forefront of being proactive about encouraging dialogue between wind farm developers and the community."

Bradworthy became home to North Devon's first wind farm in 2005 when German company Energie Kontor erected three 250ft giants at Stowford Cross.

Hugo Barton, chairman of Torridge's planning committee, said: "Planning applications for wind turbines can at times raise a great deal of concern, and therefore it's really positive that a conference was held at such a site in Torridge, seeking to examine how best we as planners can address that public concern, while at the same time, address the increasingly important issue of climate change.

"As so often in planning, it is no mean feat to arrive at a considered conclusion that balances all these issues."