Fears voiced over impact wind turbines would have on coast

By pharper

A WIND farm near Ilfracombe could dominate and destroy coastal views, residents and councillors have claimed.

BT has submitted a report to North Devon Council about plans to build three giant wind turbines at Greater Shelfin Farm near Mullacott.

The turbines would each be 410ft high.

The move comes a year after the telecommunications giant gained permission to place a 60ft foot high anemometer or met mast on the site to measure wind speeds and directions.

BT told the Journal it could submit a planning application for the wind turbines later in the year.

BT said the wind turbines would produce 18,000mW of electricity a year, enough for 4,100 households.

The proposal has already met strong opposition.

Bill Wilson, owner of Mullacott Cross Caravan Park , said: "It would be a huge blot on the landscape blocking views that people come from the city to see.

"It is purely for commercial gain. Well, not at our expense in North Devon."

Lawrence Wright , from Campscott Farm at nearby Lee, said: "These enormous wind turbines would be a disaster.

"Our main asset in North Devon is our wonderful coast and our wonderful scenery. This is what attracts visitors.

"If this becomes an industrial wasteland it will destroy our main attraction without producing any local jobs or benefit to the local economy."

A landowner, who lives near the proposed site, said: "These big industrial structures will dominate the whole coastal area."

Rod Donovan , chairman of the Ilfracombe Town Council planning committee, said:

"If they were on the other side of the A3123 we may be more sympathetic but because they are in this coastal preservation area and affecting views of the Bristol Channel we are not going to be supporting it."

Twenty-two 360ft tall turbines are to be built at Fullabrook between Braunton and Ilfracombe by Devon Wind Power.

A spokesman for Artists Against Wind Farms added: "These proposed turbines would add even further to the desecration of the beautiful North Devon countryside."

North Devon Council will now seek the views of Natural England, the Ministry of Defence and Ilfracombe Town Council on the proposed wind turbines.

Jason Mann, a spokesman for BT, said the company was aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by 80% by 2016 and aims to generate 25% of its energy through wind farms by 2016.

Mr Mann said: "We want to provide state of the art wind farms that are as efficient as possible in terms of producing electricity.

"This is an important part of our aim to reduce our carbon footprint."