RESIDENTS in the North Tawton area have held a meeting with the West Devon and Torridge Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate to express their concern over proposals to build up to 19 wind turbines in the area.

Geoffrey Cox visited the site where Renewable Energy Systems Ltd have installed a machine to measure wind speed to assess the site?s suitability.

Mr Cox said: ?This would be one of the largest wind farms in Devon, stretching up to a mile in length. They are vast ? up to 350 tall ? and they would dominate the countryside for miles around, permanently altering and industrialising its appearance.?

Mr Cox said he was concerned at the effect any wind turbines would have on the lives of people living in the area ? and he did not believe wind would provide the green solution to energy production.

?The Royal Society of Engineers has shown the need for the constant fossil fuel generation of balancing power for the frequent periods the turbines cannot operate makes them ineffective as an environmental measure,? he said.