WIND FARM GROUP NEEDS WAR CHEST

CASH-strapped campaigners are confident of stopping nine huge wind turbines being built in the Mid Devon countryside — as long as they can raise around £15,000 in the next six weeks.

Objectors say the outcome of a public inquiry into the proposed 125m turbines earmarked for the Den Valley near Bow could affect the entire future of wind farms across the UK.

The Den Brook Judicial Review Group (DBJRG) claims to have unearthed evidence that shows noise from the gigantic turbines has been understated by experts employed by Renewable Energy Systems (RES).

The company first applied for planning permission for the nine turbines as long ago as 2005.

A second planning inquiry into the scheme was triggered late last year when jubilant DBJRG members won a judicial review at the High Court.

And both sides will reconvene before inspector Andrew Pykett on July 23 for a hearing expected to last eight days.

DBJRG director Mike Hulme estimates the planning inquiry will cost the group £50,000 to fight, of which only around £35,000 has already been collected.

With a planning barrister costing £2,000 per day and a bill of almost £20,000 left over from its High Court victory, the DBJRG is desperately searching for a fresh injection of funds.

"We've got some of it, but not all of it, and we need to find another £15-£20,000," said Mr Hulme. "We're not going to get our money back this time, so what we might have to do is trim the number of days our barrister can attend the inquiry.

"The judicial group has got five or six hundred supporters, but we've already bled them dry.

"It's going to be very difficult to go further (if we lose the inquiry) as it's cost us so much.

"I have been battling to get to truth for the past four years, I work on it for up to 12 hours a day and it has cost around £50,000. It has virtually bankrupted me."

Mr Hulme, whose home of 35 years is just 1,100m from the site of the nearest of the nine proposed turbines, says data belatedly supplied by RES shows that it has significantly underestimated the effect of atmospheric conditions on the levels of noise likely to be produced.

And this will form the crux of the case presented by campaigners at next month's public inquiry.

RES experts will also have their chance to defend their figures in front of the Government inspector.

Mr Hulme says the whole industry is waiting with baited breath for the outcome of the hearing.

"It could be major breaking point for the wind farm industry," he said.

"We are now well-known for being at the cutting edge of the noise situation when it comes to wind farms.

"We won't exactly be popping the champagne corks if the plans get rejected, as the firm can make a further application.

"But it will mean that this will be a national precedent which will have implications for applications for wind farms all over the UK."

" I am not opposed to the principle of wind farms, I just think that local people have a right to live their lives in peace, without the constant swoosh, swoosh, swoosh a wind turbine produces."

An RES spokesman said: "We are confident that a re-examination of the facts will conclude that Den Brook wind farm is a well-designed project that will help the region meet its renewable energy targets and should, on balance, be allowed to go ahead."