PLANS to build a nine-turbine wind farm between three West Devon villages continue to cause controversy among residents.

The second part of an appeal inquiry is set to take place this month to allow further evidence, including those of noise issues, to be considered.

The application for the wind farm between Bow, North Tawton and Spreyton was submitted by Renewable Energy Systems (RES) in 2005.

It was turned down by West Devon Borough Council after almost 3,000 letters of objection, including those from all parish councils, Dartmoor National Park and Devon County Council.

Member of Den Brook Judicial Review Group (DBJRG) Mike Hulme, who is also in charge of the group's noise control, is strongly against the turbines plan.

He said: 'When RES appealed and the decision was overturned by the planning inspectorate, I challenged it based on noise grounds.

'It was largely to do with the fact I didn't have all the information I needed, so I couldn't properly assess their assessment.

'I lost, but I then got the information and we looked at it and found the assessment of the data was flawed.

'My problem is their assessment of the likely noise level is not adequately done — it doesn't give the full picture.'

Mr Hulme said he recently visited a wind farm in Lincolnshire to see how the noise levels affected residents.

He said: 'I stayed at a property which was of a similar distance to a wind farm as I would be.

'They had the same noise issue and it got so bad that the residents actually left.

'They tried to sell their property, but the estate agent wouldn't put it on his books because it wouldn't sell with the wind farm there.

'The same resident is actually going to come along to the appeal inquiry this month to give evidence on how it was for her.'

DBJRG has stated it would like all the information from RES —which supports the wind farm going ahead —available for local people to look at.

Mr Hulme added: 'Unless a suitable planning condition can be devised to protect neighbours from potential noise problems, it seems unreasonable to allow the developers to build these massive wind farms.'

But project manager for Den Brook Rachel Ruffle said they were happy for the noise issue to be re-examined again at a public inquiry and are confident it would not affect the project.

She said: 'The evidence we are presenting at the inquiry reinforces what we have always said about the project — that it is a low impact, sensitively-designed wind farm, that should be allowed to go ahead in order to meet the challenge of climate change and make our energy supplies more secure.

'It will generate clean, green energy equivalent to the needs of over 8,000 homes a year, which is roughly 40 per cent of West Devon's domestic power demand.' 

Rachel Ruffle said the development would bring local benefits, including jobs during construction, improvements to the railway between Exeter and Okehampton for commuters, a £27,000 a year community fund to be spent by the community on local projects and habitat enhancement at the site to improve conditions for wildlife.'

She said: 'Regarding concerns about noise, earlier this year RES voluntarily carried out further noise monitoring in the vicinity of the wind farm site and commissioned noise experts to carry out a further assessment of the noise impact.

'We are pleased to say that this independent study confirms again that the wind farm will be within noise limits and will not therefore cause a noise nuisance to local residents.'

West Devon Borough Council Leader Cllr James McInnes said: 'This is part two of the important Den Brook public inquiry, which over-ran its originally alloted time.

'The nine-wind turbine scheme has been the subject of numerous strong objections and West Devon Borough Council will continue to defend its decision to refuse the related planning application.'

The Den Brook Judicial Review Group is seeking to raise funds to cover increased legal costs. Anyone who wants to donate can visit http://www.denbrookvalley.co.uk">www.denbrookvalley.co.uk

The second part of the appeal inquiry will be held on Tuesday, October 20 at 10am at the Ockment Centre, Okehampton.

It is anticipated that the final day of the inquiry will be held on Monday, October 26, when closing submissions will be made.

Any enquiries about the inquiry can be sent to Jennifer Saunders, Environment and Special Casework, The Planning Inspectorate, Room 4/04 Kite Wing, 2 The Square, Temple Quay House, Bristol, BS1 6PN.