A CONTROVERSIAL application to erect a wind turbine at a dairy farm in Kelly was this week refused by borough councillors, against planning officers' recommendations.

The application for a turbine at Beckwell Farm, Kelly, which was recommended for conditional approval by planning officers, was refused by members of West Devon Borough Council's planning committee at a meeting on Tuesday, due to the adverse effect it would have on the character of the landscape and the undetermined impact on designated heritage assets.

Objections were received to the plan from West Devon's landscape officer, English Heritage South West, Dartmoor National Park and Milton Abbot Grouped Parish Council.

Their concerns included the visual impact on the landscape, impact on the scheduled monument of Castle Park Camp, insufficient information to understand the potential impact on designated heritage assets, the proximity to Dartmoor National Park and the turbine's visibility from Brentor Church.

Twenty eight letters of objection to the plan for the 34 metre high structure were submitted to the council from local residents.

After submission of the application, English Heritage requested further information to assess the impact on heritage assets, but it was stated in the planning report that the applicant's agent asked that the council 'take the application forward for a determination on the basis of the information already provided'.

At the meeting, applicant Mrs Heyward explained that they had looked into various options of renewable energy, including solar panels and a biodigester, but a turbine would be the correct technology for the future of the dairy farm.

She told members that she had two sons who would be studying agriculture with a view to being the fourth generation of the family to run the farm and that the turbine would be a viable and sustainable contribution to help keep the farm running.

Speaking on behalf of the Milton Abbot Grouped Parish, Howard Asbridge said the turbine would produce double the amount of energy needed for the farm: 'A smaller scale turbine could meet the needs of the farm but this large one will have significant impact on the wider environment,' he said.

'The environmental impact underpins most of the reasons for objection — this is a particularly sensitive area. At the moment there are no commercial turbines in the Lyd Valley. This will degrade and spoil the landscape, therefore paving the way for more applications in the future.

'Converting to green energy should be supported, but only when taken into account the impact it has on the surrounding area. The harm that would be done by this far outweighs the benefits.'

Cllr Bob Baldwin, ward member for Milton Ford, said: 'I acknowledge the policies to promote renewable energy and a significant proportion of the energy created by this turbine would be used to reduce the electrical costs at the farm.

'But the benefits should be weighed against the impact it would have on the area. The turbine would produce a strong vertical element to a virtually horizontal landscape.'

Cllr Baldwin carried on to say that the noise produced from the turbine would affect nearby businesses that promoted the benefits of rural peace and tranquillity.

'On balancing the benefits against the impact on the landscape and the heritage assets I recommend refusal,' he said. 'I believe the adverse effects considerably outweigh the benefits.'

Cllr Terry Pearce felt it was an extremely difficult decision: 'I know the traumas the dairy industry has gone through and the horrendous energy costs that are killing enterprises like this, but we have to look at the balance.

'This is an area of great landscape value — it's high and prominent. I can see why Dartmoor National Park objects — but I feel uneasy knowing what the dairy industry has gone through in the last few years.'

Cllr Mike Benson agreed that is was a very high and exposed site and that his principal concern was the character of the landscape.

The committee unanimously voted to refuse the application on the grounds that it would cause an adverse visual impact on the landscape and an undetermined impact on certain heritage assets.

• There are plans currently in the consultation stages for a 77 metre turbine at Ridgecombe Farm in Lifton by the company Aardvark.

Councillors at a recent Lifton Parish Council meeting voted for an environmental impact assessment to be undertaken before the project goes any further.