MoD wants Batsworthy Cross wind turbines to be illuminated

The Ministry of Defence has called for proposed wind turbines in North Devon to be lit up at night.

Their suggestion means a planning meeting to consider the proposed wind farm at Batsworthy Cross has been postponed.

The application was due to be discussed on Monday, February 2 at West Anstey Village Hall.

But the meeting was called off today after the MoD submitted a request that the wind turbines be illuminated.

The request came as a surprise to the planning authority, North Devon Council, which thought all consultation responses had already been submitted.

The current plan for the turbines, on the edge of Exmoor, does not include illumination.

North Devon Council now wants to ask groups opposed to the turbine plan, such as the Campaign to Protect Rural England, what they think about the lights demand. The applicants will also need to be consulted.

Npower Renewables Ltd wants to build nine turbines at Batsworthy Cross near Knowstone.

They would be 103 metres high from base to tip. The maximum energy output is predicted to be 22.5MW, enough to power 10,900 homes.

Caroline Harvey, from the Two Moors Campaign, said objectors had been warning the council from the day the application was submitted, two years ago, that the MoD was likely to ask for lights on the turbines. She was surprised the council was surprised by the late request.

She said the lights would only add to the case against the turbines because they would ruin the tranquility of the area and be visible across the region.

The Environment Agency has asked for further clarification on what impact the application could have on private water supplies.

Jasmine Chesters, chairman of the planning committee said: "We realise that this application has been under consideration for a long time. However, it is vital that the council and other relevant groups have been given all the correct information. Only then, when these new issues have been thoroughly examined, can we make a well supported decision."

The assessment is expected to take a minimum of two weeks.

The meeting will be rescheduled.