I ATTENDED last Friday?s public meeting at North Tawton, held to consider the controversial wind farm proposals for that area. Although the meeting was attended by some in favour of the scheme (who appeared to have come primarily from outside the district, notably South and East Devon), it was clear that the overwhelming sentiment of the meeting was against the proposals. The reasons given for this view (mostly cogently argued by Noel Edmonds on behalf of the Renewable Energy Foundation) were diverse, including:- l the negative environmental and aesthetic impact the development would have l the lack of a coherent strategy underpinning the haphazard growth of wind generation l the negative effects of wind power in Denmark and Germany l the negligible impact of wind generation on UK power production l the unreliability of wind as a power source l the need to maintain power stations on stand-by at all times l the physical dangers posed by wind turbines not just to bird life but to human welfare l noise pollution. For all these reasons, the general consensus of the meeting was that wind turbines were unwelcome in this area and of little value as an alternative power source for this country as a whole. This being the case, surely the way forward is for a local referendum to be held (of the type advocated by UKIP on a whole range of local, regional and national issues) among the residents of North Tawton and the surrounding areas likely to be affected by this development to assess the level of support it has; and, in a true spirit of democracy, for the planners and proponents of the scheme to abide by the outcome of that vote. Matthew Jackson UKIP prospective parliamentary candidate for West Devon and Torridge
