Town and Country Planning Act 1990 Appeal by RWE Npower Renewables Ltd Site at Land At Batsworthy Cross, , EX36 4RZ

Statement of Case: Friends of Batsworthy Cross Wind Farm Rule 6 Group

We support this wind farm application for the following reasons:

1] The proposed site, and the surrounding area, is dominated by the A361 road [known as the North Link Road] which lies to the north of the site. This is the major road of , which links North Devon to the main national motorway network, via junction 27 on the M5 motorway. The A361 is for much of its length a three lane road and carries considerable volumes of traffic. This comprises heavy commercial traffic, holiday traffic such as caravans, and agricultural traffic, besides private and business traffic. This road dominates the site in terms of visual intrusion and noise. Therefore it cannot be claimed that the proposed site lies in an undisturbed rural enclave untouched by man-made ‘industrial’ development.

2] The A361 [North Devon Link Road] forms a ‘natural’ [albeit man made] division between the proposed site and the Exmoor National Park whose southernmost boundary lies some five miles to the north of the site. Therefore the site cannot be considered as a natural extension of the Exmoor National Park.

3] The nine turbines are planned as a compact unit located at similar heights, thus there is no vertical stacking. The site lies on top of a small plateau. All the turbines would lie to the south of the plateau. The design of the site has deliberately avoided any intrusion to the north of the plateau from where the land sweeps away towards Exmoor.

4] This site is exceptionally suitable in terms of wind potential and our contention is that the turbines can be absorbed into this part of the Devon countryside.

The area is predominately farmland with well scattered farms and houses. Within a 1.5 radius of the site, houses tend to face downslope which means that many would face away from the turbines. Small clusters of residences occur at Batsworthy, facing south east and , facing south west. Knowstone, which is also within the 1.5 mile radius, but to the north of the A361, lies partway down the northern slope of the plateau, with wonderful views to Exmoor.

5] Outside the 1.5 mile zone, villages and hamlets vary as to the impact of the turbines. Rackenford is 2.5 miles from the site and it lies on a slope facing south east, ie away from the turbines. Ash Mill is also 2.5 miles from the site and is located down in a deep valley. is under 2 miles away from the site and lies on a ridge, so those on the east side would have views of the site. Larger settlements of Bishops Nympton and Witheridge are four miles away. Bishops Nympton primarily faces south but properties at the eastern edge would have peripheral views east/ south east towards the turbines. Witheridge is on a flat shoulder of land and houses have views to west, north [towards the turbines] or east and most commonly to other adjacent houses. Well west of the turbines, faces west and Mariansleigh faces south. To the north, faces south or west but is flanked by a hill which blocks most views southwards. has views to the south and south west but is over 4 miles from the site.

6] Further away, and Dulverton are both about 7 miles from the site at which distance the turbines would appear very small.

In conclusion, intrusion into the landscape would not be excessive, and would be considerably less than is being claimed.

7] The Two Moors Way is the most important footpath in the area running across farmland. For nearly 4 miles it makes a loop around the site, which is one mile away. It is a popular long distance path. Its obvious attractions are the moorland expanses of Exmoor and Dartmoor. A drawback of the section near Batsworthy Cross is that much of the route follows minor roads. An estimated 22% is footpath, the rest is roads. For many walkers, this part of the Two Moors Way is a part to be ‘got through’ on the way to the attractions of Witheridge if going south or the delights of Exmoor if going north. It is reasonable to assume that the turbines would appear as a landmark for walkers, a target to aim for and a satisfaction to be gained when achieved. It is even possible that some interested walkers would prefer to take a direct walk through the turbines. This might be developed as an alternative in the future. Otherwise, tourism in the area would not be affected as it is a minimal activity. The main tourism area for North Devon lies along its beautiful Coast. If sea levels rise by 7 meters as has been predicted for the turn of the century should global warming approach 2 degrees C, the North Devon Coastal resorts would suffer considerable damage from flooding. This is the main danger presented to the North Devon Tourism Economy, and one reason why North Devonians should get behind efforts to reduce global warming/climate change. Even if tourism was significant in this area [which it is not] opinion surveys taken in this country consistently record a high level of acceptance of wind farms in the generation of renewable energy.

8] The application was recommended for approval by the planning officer, Mr Alan Barnett, to members of the planning committee at the meeting of 22 nd June 2011, subject to planning conditions. Mr Barnett has examined the implications of this wind farm application assiduously and in minute detail for the last five years since it was first proposed. There is no reason to doubt his judgement nor the solidity of his recommendation.

9] The application was considered at the meeting of the Exmoor National Park Authority planning committee, 9 th January 2007, as consultees. The recommendation from the head of planning, Mr David Wyborn, to the planning committee was that NO OBJECTION be raised to the proposed Wind Farm at Batsworthy Cross. This recommendation was narrowly defeated by 8 votes to 7.

The planning policy statement PPS 22 states that planning authorities should not attempt to create buffer zones around protected landscapes such as the Exmoor National Park. It would be wrong for supporters of the National Park to argue that the site is ‘an extension’ of the National Park, when the Park is at least 5 miles from the proposed site. It would be wrong, for instance, to argue that because one or more turbines could be ‘seen’ from the National Park, that the enjoyment of the Park, and its tranquillity, was somehow being compromised, and to use this as a reason to seek rejection of the proposed wind farm.

10] The planning officers of the statutory bodies involved have both concluded that there are no objections to the development of the wind farm on planning grounds. Other authorities in the area, such as Development Control Committee have raised no strategic planning objection.

11] The Pearson report identified this locality as an ‘area of search’ for wind farm development in their report to the Devon County Council and the North Devon Council, in 1993. [The landscape implications of wind farm development in North Devon, Nicholas Pearson Associates Ltd July 1993]. This is a principal reason why the applicants have chosen this site for wind farm development.

12] Planning Policy Statement 22 [PPS 22] states, ‘increased development of renewable energy sources is vital to facilitating the delivery of the Government’s commitments on both climate change and renewable energy. ..Local Development Documents should contain policies designated to promote and encourage, rather than restrict, the development of renewable energy resources’.

13] The UK Climate Change Programme, published by the Government in March 2006 ‘acknowledges that climate change is the greatest long-term challenge facing the world today.’ The Stern review published in 2006 concludes that the costs to the national economy from climate change are likely to be considerable and that the benefits of strong and early action far outweigh the economic costs of not acting.

14]The Batsworthy Cross Wind Farm could provide energy equivalent to the domestic consumption of between approximately 26% and 29% of homes in the North Devon District Council Area. This could result in ‘electricity generation estimated to offset the production of between 26,000 and 44,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide [green house gases] per year’. These are the applicants estimates. However even using the figures in the Fullabrook decision, the inspector found that the carbon dioxide savings per 1MW, is 978.8 tonnes pa, per 1MW, which the inspector found would secure significant savings.

15] The wind Farm would make a contribution to meeting the [sub-regional] target for Devon of 151 MW of electricity production from land based renewable sources by 2010 subject to the consideration of their impact upon the qualities and special features of the landscape and upon the conditions of those living and working nearby. These targets have not been met and will not be met even with the contribution from the Fullabrook Wind Farm.

These arguments will be put forward by the Friends of Batsworthy Cross Wind Farm at the Inquiry. This is our statement of case. Yours faithfully

Rosemary Brian [Miss] On behalf of the Friends of Batsworthy Cross Wind Farm