CONTROVERSIAL plans for a wind turbine at Waytown, near Inwardleigh, went on display to the public this week.

Inwardleigh Parish Council organised an exhibition at Folly Gate Village Hall on Monday. The council invited ClearWinds Ltd and Energy4All to answer questions and hear concerns regarding the proposal.

The turbine would be located approximately three kilometres south west of Inwardleigh, surrounded by agricultural land in all directions. The proposal is for a single wind turbine with a maximum hub height of 50 metres and a tip height of up to 78 metres.

With an installed capacity of up to 0.85 megawatts, the turbine could power around 475 homes, displacing in the region of 24,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions during its 25-year lifespan.

If the turbine gets the go-ahead, a community benefits package would be put together to go directly to a local community trust. The intention is for the trust to receive a minimum fixed payment of £15,000 per year for use on energy efficiency and climate change awareness projects.

Marilyn Cooper, clerk of Inwardleigh Parish Council, said: 'We had a good turnout, around 100 people, which on a sunny evening with a busy day that included the torch relay, shows the level of concern in the area.

'I must say I was not impressed with what we were told or presented with.

'There is a lot of concern. I spoke for one person in favour of the turbine, but everyone else seemed against it.'

Talking about the proposed turbine site, William Clare, company director of ClearWinds Ltd, said: 'A developer will do a site feasibility study, looking at constraint mapping. This includes looking at land designation, whether the land is in the national park, or has land restriction upon it.

'All these variables are put together and a site is selected. A lot of people seem to think developers pick a field at random, but it is not done like that.

'This is not a big development. Besides the environmental benefit, there are economical benefits for the community fund, potentially receiving up to £22,000 per year.

'The reaction from people, as you would expect, is mixed. We have had some that are clearly against it, and some that are for it.'

ClearWinds is preparing a planning application for submission to West Devon Borough Council.