IN a letter I received from Geoffrey Wilkinson, Chief Executive, South West Regional Development Agency last week, he claims that SWRDA is not supporting Peninsular Power Ltd, the would-be developers of a 36-acre two-stage development on Winkleigh airfield, that would include two biomass power stations, and associated industries.
In December last year SWRDA spent £338,000 of public money in the purchase of the airfield site where PPL?s development will stand, if it is ever built.
Mr Wilkinson denies that the land was bought on behalf of PPL, but that SWRDA would be prepared to sell it to the company, were Torridge District Council to give planning permission.
In the same letter it emerges that in addition, SWRDA will spend yet more taxpayers? money in funding various studies that relate to PPL?s plans.
Since the summer of last year executives of PPL have been promising public consultation by means of leaflets, an exhibition, and a public debate. These promises have never been delivered.
I was therefore flabbergasted to read, once again in Mr Wilkinson?s letter, that SWRDA were now to pay for this public consultation which he justifies as follows, ?We wanted to ensure that Peninsula Power were able to manage an extensive public consultation . . . ?
If buying the site, funding studies, and paying for the staging of public consultation do not amount to support for PPL by SWRDA, then it is hard to imagine what the quango?s concept of support is.
What SWRDA fails to take on board is that, within the context of the debate about PPL?s plans, the company, and biomass are synonymous in the eyes of those opposed to it.
It beggars belief that SWRDA is naïve enough not to realise, that despite its protestations, its actions can only be viewed as blatant support of PPL, in its forthcoming application to Torridge District Council for planning permission, in pursuance of its plan to build a vast industrial complex in the heart of rural Devon.
Peter Jones
DUST
(Devon Under Serious Threat)
77 Westcots Drive
Winkleigh