OBJECTORS to a proposed wind farm in the Chilla Valley met councillors and a planning officer from Torridge District Council to discuss the planning process.
The meeting at Halwill Village Hall on August 11 saw councillors Gaye Tabor and Barry Parsons and the major projects planning officer, Bob Williams, take questions about the planning process from the 30-plus audience of Chilla Against Turbines committee and volunteers.
The CAT team's objective was fully to understand the process Scottish Power would need to follow prior to building the proposed industrial wind farm.
Scottish Power will have to apply to both Torridge and West Devon councils for planning permission, as the proposed development spans both districts. Scottish Power has not yet applied to Torridge District Council.
After making a preliminary enquiry to the council, the power company will then do a scoping report which includes a full environment impact assessment, and a transportation study to validate transport routes for the movement of abnormal loads and heavy construction vehicles.
In addition, a preliminary design and site access assessment will be required, all taking a total of approximately six months.
Once the full planning application is submitted the council should take about 13 weeks to consider the package, publishing the planning application in the newspaper and a site notice, at which stage people can write to the council to give their opinion.
The council will consult the various bodies concerned, such as English Nature, and the planning committee will debate the issues and may ask for a site visit.
Should the council turn down the application, the applicants have a right to appeal and it could go to a public enquiry, which takes about a year.
There are no rights of appeal to third parties, only where it is a judicial review if it is believed the planning department has not taken certain matters into consideration.
Roy Houghton, chairman of CAT, thanked the councillors and planning officer for their time.
A CAT spokesman said it was felt that industrial wind farm developments could potentially damage the health, environment, wildlife, property values and economic vitality of rural communities.
The Chilla wind farm areas likely to be impacted include Chilla, Halwill Junction, Black Torrington and Highampton.
The nearest property is around 563 metres away, and Burdon Grange nursing home would be approximately 700 metres away from the nearest turbine, says the campaign group.
A spokesman for Scottish Power said the company was still looking at the site and is in conversation with landowners, together with feasibility studies. which would all take time. 'We work hard to get it right,' he said.