THE company planning to build a controversial £40-million biomass electricity generator on the former airfield at Winkleigh this week urged residents to attend a series of roadshows in the area.
The roadshow programme has been announced following an abortive attempt by Peninsula Power Limited to hold a public meeting at Chulmleigh School, cancelled at the last minute earlier this month.
It says the consultation deadline, November 16, has now been extended by Torridge District Council?s planning department.
PPL says it will visit Burrington, Winkleigh, Lapford, Dolton, Chulmleigh and Iddesleigh with its roadshow, starting next week.
Each event will comprise a display model of the WINBEG generator, photomontages and other information, available between 10am and 6pm, plus an evening presentation at 7.30pm with an open forum including a question and answer session.
Tony Fitzsimmons, chairman of PPL, said: ?We have always intended taking an exhibition roadshow round the parishes during the planning process.
?This has become more important, due to the setback we had with Chulmleigh Community College a few days ago.?
Mr Fitzsimmons said the parishes would be issued with a supply of posters, handouts and a CD version of the biomass power plan?s full planning application.
?We hope these events will help people make a considered evaluation of our proposals, but urge everyone interested in finding out more to attend the exhibition nearest to their homes, so we can maximize through-put and have enough time to spend with those who have detailed enquiries,? said Mr Fitzsimmons.
David Lausen, speaking for the campaign group DUST (Devon Under Serious Threat), which opposes the biomass scheme, said: ?We obviously welcome these roadshows, but we find it incredible there hasn?t been any public consultation before now.
?I don?t think they will change people?s minds that this is totally out of scale and out of character in this area.?
He disputed the claim the power station would produce a renewable form of energy, due to the ?vast amount? of lorry journeys and fossil fuels required to bring the raw materials to Winkleigh to burn.
John Burnett, MP for West Devon and Torridge, last week attended a meeting with the South West Regional Development Agency, at which the results of scientific studies and the viability of the proposals were discussed. The RDA has already spent more than £1-million in purchasing the site at Winkleigh.
Mr Burnett, who opposes the plan, said there was no evidence to suggest it was a ?truly renewable scheme?.
He feared it would be a ?huge white elephant? which could adversely affect hundreds of people living in the area.
The MP called on Torridge District Council to hold a further public meeting at which all interested parties could air their views.
A spokesperson for Torridge Council said the deadline for consultations regarding the Winkleigh Biomass application was now December 14.
She said all planning applications were considered on planning merits ? no request had yet been received from Mr Burnett regarding a public meeting.
The PPL roadshows will be at Burrington Village Hall on November 22; Winkleigh on November 23; North Tawton on November 24; Lapford on November 25; Dolton on November 26; Chulmleigh on November 27 and Iddesleigh on November 29.