Joint wind turbine inquiry to cost more

THE decision to hold a joint inquiry into proposals to site two wind farms in Devon will cost twice as much and restrict public access to decision-making.

That was the view of a leading Mid Devon councillor, as a public inquiry opened in South Molton last week, which will hear evidence about Coronation Power Ltd's application for four wind turbines at Bickham Moor, near Rackenford, as well as a proposal for nine turbines at Three Moors, near South Molton in North Devon.

Cllr Paul Williams, chair of Mid Devon's planning committee said not only was a joint inquiry costing the council more money, it was also giving people in Mid Devon less chance to witness the decision-making.

Cllr Williams said: "I think if there is an important planning application in this area, it should be heard in this area. We had a lot of representations on this application from places like Stoodleigh and Oakford, which are closer to Tiverton than South Molton.

Cllr Williams said: "It will also cost the council taxpayers twice as much. If an individual inquiry was held in Tiverton, it would probably cost us say £20,000-£25,000 and last two weeks, but this is expected to last a month and cost us £45,000 to £50,000."

Cllr Williams acknowledged there would be venue and other costs associated with holding an inquiry in Tiverton, but he said the bulk of the cost was on legal fees. Given the way the inquiry was structured, it was vital for the council's solicitor to be present throughout the entire hearing.

Cllr Williams spoke out about his concerns at a district council planning meeting in Tiverton last Wednesday.

Mid Devon's head of planning Jonathan Guscott told Cllr Williams that the decision to hold the inquiry in conjunction with one in North Devon had been that of the planning inspector. He said the inspector had originally wanted to hold it in Barnstaple, but after negotiations with the planning officers, the venue had been moved closer to Mid Devon.

Cllr Williams said: "There is a big wave of opposition to the proposals in North Devon and I think the inspector wanted to hold it there to pander to them, but I don't think that is good enough."

Both councils were joined at the inquiry opening in the Assembly Rooms in South Molton by the Rural Exmoor Alliance, a pressure group opposing the schemes.