The Ramblers’ Association (RA) will oppose the construction of twenty two giant wind turbines – taller than Big Ben – at the Fullabrook Down Public Inquiry, which opens tomorrow (28 November 2006) in North Devon.
The RA believes that the scenic beauty of the Fullabrook Down site and surrounding landscape will be substantially damaged, if the development is approved. Turbines 110m in height - visible above Codden Hill which is the highest point in the vicinity - will be seen for miles around including from many footpaths popular with local walkers and tourists and from the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Exmoor National Park.
The national walking organisation is currently pressing the Government for a complete overhaul of the Renewables Obligation. This would remove public funding for large-scale industrial wind farms in scenic areas – such as the Fullabrook Down development - to small-scale community turbines along with other renewable development options.
Devon Wind Power admit that the development will be ‘highly visible’ from North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and ‘have a substantial and significant effect on the character of the landscape’ – a landscape which they describe as ‘of exceptionally high value’.
Patrick Grady, Countryside Campaign Manager at the RA, said: “The RA is not opposed to all wind turbines. But we do believe that the beauty of the countryside should be protected both for the benefit of the public and for its own sake. Tackling climate change should not be at the expense of our most precious landscapes. Energy efficiency and better use of public transport is a much better way to reduce carbon emissions than covering the South West in wind farms.”
He added: “A much smaller development at Fullabrook Down was rejected due to impact on the landscape so it would be shocking if this much larger development gets the go-ahead.”
The Campaign Against Wind Turbines and the Devon branch of CPRE are among other organisations opposing the application.
