I LIVE in South Tawton on the northern edge of Dartmoor, just inside Dartmoor National Park.  This summer West Devon Borough Council rejected an application to erect a single 67 metre high wind turbine on land just 1.5km from South Tawton and less than 500 metres outside the northern boundary of  Dartmoor National Park.

The application had been strongly opposed by local groups and individuals and, importantly, by Dartmoor National Park Authority.  The developer has now appealed against this decision and the appeal is due to go before a planning inspector in mid December.

This case is obviously of great importance to our locality but I believe it has wider implications for all those who love Dartmoor.  If this appeal is successful, it will set a precedent that could open the door to having wind turbines — and, increasingly, solar farms — right up to the borders of our national parks.  The Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) has reported a huge increase in planning applications for wind turbines and solar farms in district councils in Devon.  These have so far been concentrated to the north and west of Dartmoor but they report an acceleration of applications across much of South Devon and in the South Hams in particular.

We must also consider the effects on tourism.  Visitors come to Dartmoor for many reasons but chief amongst them is to enjoy the largest area of wild country in the south of Britain and to experience the openness and space which they cannot find in their everyday lives. 

Will these visitors still wish to come to Dartmoor if it is ringed with wind turbines and solar farms in very close proximity?  Although Exmoor is very different in character from Dartmoor, similar concerns apply.

We have to stop this particular appeal in its tracks if we are not to risk despoiling priceless assets in our tourism armoury.  The planning inspector needs to see that we in Devon value our national parks and will oppose any development which threatens their special character.  With strong support from the people of Devon we can defeat this appeal and others like it.

I therefore urge everyone with a love of our two wonderful national parks to write to the planning inspector to state their opposition to having wind turbines so close to the national park. 

Unfortunately time is short as comments from members of the public have to be with the planning inspector by December 17.  Further information on how to make your views known to the Inspector can be found on the South Tawton Wind Turbine Action Group's website at http://www.southtawton-wtag.co.uk">www.southtawton-wtag.co.uk

Alan Wright

Chairman, South Tawton Wind Turbine Action Group