MABRAKE – Milton Abbot, BRadstone And KElly Action group.

Please note this is being arranged by CPRE Torridge and promises to be a most interesting morning. If you would like to attend please note that it is important to RSVP Penny Mills at the email address given at the end.  Thank you.

UNDERSTANDING COMMERCIAL WIND & SOLAR POWER

& HOW TO RESPOND TO AN APPLICATION

FRIDAY 15^TH NOVEMBER 2013

9.30am-12.30pm

Holsworthy Memorial Hall

Manor Car Park, North Road,

Holsworthy, EX22 6DJ

Your area of Devon is seeing increased numbers of proposals for large wind turbines and solar farms, particularly in Torridge and West Devon.  These applications are controversial.

There is much environmental and technical data which must be included with a wind turbine and solar farm application. This information needs to be understood and assessed before a suitable response can be submitted to the Local Planning Authority.  We will provide guidance on how to do this.

CPRE Devon is increasingly being asked to advise and assist with these applications.  We are therefore holding this free* morning seminar for interested parties, which we trust will be useful.

In the last 12 months various statements have been issued regarding how local people could have their voices heard concerning such proposals.  There is much confusion with regards to such legislation – The Localism Act, the NPPF etc.  We are therefore delighted that our local MP for Torridge & West Devon, Geoffrey Cox QC, will be joining us and seeking to provide some clarity.

Schedule:

9.30am                        Registration

10.00am          ‘Welcome’ – Penny Mills Chair, CPRE Torridge

10.05am          ‘Introduction’, Tony Milton, Chairman CPRE Devon

10.10am          ‘Understanding Wind & Solar Power’ – Dr Phillip Bratby, energy consultant

10.30am          Questions

10.45am          Coffee

11.00am          ‘The planning Process – how to respond to an application’ –

Mr Bob Barfoot, Chairman CPRE North Devon

11.20am          Questions

11.30am          ‘The Government’s policy’ –Geoffrey Cox QC MP

11.50am          Questions

12.15pm          Panel discussion

12.30pm          End

RSVP:

Penny Mills, CPRE Torridge  email: torridge@cpredevon.org.uk  tel:01409 334662

*Refreshments will be available for a small contribution.

A Screening Application has been submitted to WDBC for a 50kW wind Turbine at Beckwell Farm, Meadwell, Kelly, Lifton, PL16 0HJ. No height or proposed location is shown at this time but depending on the make a 50kW turbine could be mounted on a 25/36m tower and the blade diameter would be in the region of 15m and therefore would be visible from a long way away as Beckwell is on the eastern slopes of Ramsdown.

Further details can be found at the WDBC Planning web site by looking up 00954/2013

Sheryll Murray MP has formulated an e-petition to try and stop planning appeals over-ruling local decisions made by local councillors and to ensure the Government’s localism agenda is pursued in all cases.

As many of you are aware the Appeal process has almost always overruled local opinion so please sign this e-petition:-

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/46269

Thank you!