Route options for Fullabrook still being considered
TWO possible routes into North Devon are being investigated by the energy firm behind the Fullabrook wind farm.
Work on the site is due to begin at the start of 2010 and the farm should be fully operational by the end of the year.
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WHICH WAY?: Decisions have yet to be taken on how turbine components will be transported to the Fullabrook site.
The 22 turbines will be 110m (360ft) tall and, according to Devon Wind Power, the machines will produce more than 40% of Devon's renewable energy target (151 megawatts).
Two possible routes for the turbines to get to the site were identified in the environmental statement that accompanied Devon Wind Power's planning application.
The first route will use the A361/A399/A3123 via Blackmoor Gate. This requires alteration of a bridge parapet on the A399 and a temporary track for the turbines to avoid a sharp corner at Berry Down Cross on the A3123.
Access to the site is via the unclassified road at the junction of the A3123 at Hore Down Gate where widening of the junction is required. Various minor improvements are then planned along this unclassified route with passing places and minor widening.
Devon Wind Power said it undertook a "dummy run" of this route for the public inquiry.
The second route is to use the A361, crossing the River Taw at the new bypass bridge to the west of Barnstaple then proceeding through Braunton to the junction with the A3123 at Mullacott.
Improvements needed on this route include the widening of the junction at Hore Down Gate and minor improvements on the unclassified route to the site.
Final decisions about which route will be used will only be taken once the turbine supplier has been chosen because it will be the turbine supplier's responsibility to deliver the materials to the site.
It is thought that the turbines will be transported during off-peak periods — late at night or early in the morning — to avoid traffic congestion.
The earliest the turbine parts are likely to be transported to the site is April 2010 and infrastructure works on the site and highway improvements need to start about three months before.
4 Comments
by Anon, Braunton
Sunday, January 04 2009, 7:57PM
“I agree with you B Williams of South Wales, I too have read that Germany, have proven that these wind turbines are not only a very bad blot on our beloved landscape, they are NOT as affective as the gov. would like us to believe, BUT what can we do? the gov. over rule us country folk, they don't have to see it or live in view of these eyesores.
The sea would be more practical and supply us with the much needed renewable energy the gov. say we need.
Someone took a nice back hander to get this pushed through gov.”
by B. Williams, South Wales
Thursday, January 01 2009, 7:59PM
“Sorry to put a damper on things, but.
In Evironment News 1st. June 2005, Iain Murry and Myron Ebell confirmed that Germany had discovered in 2005 that "wind power is an impractical solution".
Official Opposition spokesman Klaus Lippold M.P. said "The problem with wind power is that you have to build them in places where you don't need electricity. The electricity then has to be moved somewhere else (in Germany, to achieve a 20% renewable contribution-similar to the UK's ultimate target- it will require more than 800 miles of additional cabling to link up a network). There is growing resistance in Germany to wind farms, not least because of the disasterous effect on our landscape". Any more for wind farms?
Something to think about, efficiency, windfarms 20%-30%, Severn Barrage 30% ish, modern nuclear power station 55%-60%, Bristol Channel Tidal Lagoons 61% and cheap.”
by Dave, Ilfracombe
Thursday, January 01 2009, 4:59PM
“Of course this is an issue which the greenies would rather be kept quiet. In backing windfarms and their "green energy", they have also backed widening and realignments on the A399/A3123, and substantial road construction over Fullabrook Down itself. I'm pretty sure that not all 22 turbines will be conveniently lined up along the Hore Down road.
However I'm not a greenie, and whilst strongly against the wind farm, it is sadly inevitable, and we have to make the most of a bad job. Hopefully the A399 route will be chosen. Along with unrelated upgrade works of the A3123 starting in February between Long Lane and Seven Ash, it will hopefully mean a seond half-decent route into Ilfracombe for HGV's. In the event of a closure on the A361, Ilfracombe is effectively stranded, and a good alternative is long overdue. Hopefully it will also mean we finally get improvements at the horrendous Easter Cross and Lynton Cross junctions - something that should have been done years ago!”
by James, Braunton
Wednesday, December 31 2008, 3:03PM
“The prospectus tells us there will be about one daily abnormal load for nine months, plus several dozen heavy lorries daily conveying stones, concrete, hardcore etc to the site. What a disruption this would be to holiday traffic in 2010, queues at Braunton, nightime travel holdups for holiday caravans, etc. The developers should not pass off the problem, and the cost of road travel delays for private and business motorists, to the turbine makers. Nor should the planners let them. It is perfectly feasible to deliver all constructions and hardcore to the site by cargo helicopter, the hiring of which would save enormous expense and energy for other road users.”