OPPONENTS of the controversial scheme to site two wind turbines at a farm near Lamerton received a boost this week with Dartmoor National Park Authority recommending objection to the proposal — but the final decision still rests with West Devon Borough Council.

Planning officers at Dartmoor National Park concluded the proposed turbines would be an 'alien feature' on the landscape and would 'detract from the enjoyment of the area'.

As the application site is close to the park border, the authority is entitled to make its own representation as a neighbouring authority, to the borough council.

The recommendation will be considered at a meeting of the park's planning committee, tomorrow (Friday).

Although the authority says it recognises and supports the benefits of renewable energy, it has objected to the proposed turbines as they would be visible from viewpoints within the National Park.

The report prepared by planning officers says structure plan policies state that 'windfarm' developments would not be appropriate where they would affect the National Park.

West Devon Borough Council has so far received a divided response to the scheme, with 72 letters of objection and 69 letters and an 18-name petition in favour.

Also among the objectors are the Council for the Protection of Rural England which says the green advantages of renewable energy would be outweighed by the visual impact on the important landscape.

The application by farmers Robert and Carol Bradford is to construct two 50-metre-high wind turbines on part of their land at Beech Farm, on the road to Chillaton, about one and a half miles west of Brentor Church.

The total height of the structures would be 81 metres, and the turbines would supply between 1,400 and 1,600 homes with renewable power.

An environmental impact assessment into the proposal is due to be carried out in the coming weeks, but the issue is unlikely to come before the borough's planning committee until late summer at the earliest.

Mrs Bradford said: 'We are in the process of completing an environmental impact assessment, and it may take quite some time, but as far as we are concerned, we are still going ahead.'

Neighbouring farmers Anthony and Sarah Pope said the proposal was 'unacceptable' because of the visual impact and noise. 'We are totally opposed to it. There is a place for these turbines, it certainly could be a way ahead, but only in the correct place.

'We feel a moral obligation to the countryside, because this is not farm diversification,' said Mr Pope.

The turbines would be constructed and supervised by a national wind turbine company.

A temporary mast with a maximum height of 50 metres could be erected prior to the construction of the turbines and lorries would have to carry equipment to the site along an access road.

Once in operation the turbine would run automatically, requiring visits approximately two to four times a month, with longer service visits twice a year.

Residents in Lamerton have also expressed concern over access to the site along a narrow road leading to the farm.

The applicants say the road is already used by lorries as it leads onto an industrial site and the level of traffic during construction would not be sufficient to cause the road to be blocked.

l See Letters, page 4.