A SENIOR borough councillor told fellow members they had been wrong to refuse permission for a small wind turbine to be sited on a new industrial development being provided on the outskirts of Okehampton. Cllr Dick Eberlie said he supported the idea of a small wind turbine on the site of the Opportunity Okehampton development, which will provide 16 light industrial units on a plot to the rear of the Mole Avon site. A planning application three months ago was subject to a split decision where the scheme was approved with the exception of the proposed turbine. On Tuesday, members of West Devon Borough Council?s planning committee granted approval to a resubmission of the plans, which this time contained a smaller turbine. The revised proposal featured a 6KW turbine as opposed to the previous 15KW design. Cllr Eberlie said: ?I wholly support the introduction of a small wind turbine. I think the council got it wrong last time.? Cllr Eberlie said he believed the council should not have turned down a turbine on the grounds of adverse impact on Dartmoor, when the National Park Authority had made no objection to the scheme. Cllr James McInnes, who represents the Lew Valley ward, within which the application site falls, said he was also content to support a smaller wind turbine on the site. Renewable energy will be utilised as part of the development, alongside the on-site wind turbine. The plan also incorporates a curved roof to the proposed modern two-storey building containing photovoltaic solar panels. The planning officer?s report to the committee concluded: ?It is accepted there would be views of the turbine from the National Park and the rural hinterland to the north of Okehampton; however, it is considered that its visual presence in the landscape would be acceptably mitigated by its relatively small size and industrial setting.? Therefore it was considered that it would not appear as ?an unacceptable, jarring or alien feature?. The application was approved by members subject to a number of detailed conditions, some of which were further strengthened following consultation with the Environment Agency about the issue of run-off water and ground water at the site.
