opponents of a proposed plan to site three wind turbines at Yelland Farm on land to the south of Okehampton have welcomed the Ministry of Defence?s strong objection to the proposal. The proposal was rejected by West Devon Borough Council?s planning committee in May. But Ray Quirke, chairman of Okehampton and Dartmoor Against Wind Turbrines (ODAT) said the MoD?s views on the issue were not aired at the meeting because their letter arrived three days after it took place. Mr Quirke said he was under the impression the developers, West Coast Energy, had stated the MoD had no objections to the application. ?This was taken on good faith by all concerned, including the planning officers,? he said. ?However, three days after the meeting, the ministry contacted the planning office to say not only did they object, but that they expressed a strong desire to be kept fully informed should the matter go to appeal,? Mr Quirke said. ?It rather begs the question ? what if permission had been granted, on the assumption that the MoD were not concerned? What recourse would we have had, or penalties levied?? Mr Quirke said ODAT would continue to fight developers who wanted to ?saddle us with their useless, ineffective monuments to greed and stupidity,? and he welcomed the MoD?s addition to the impressive list of august bodies opposing the scheme.
