"Murex Energy is seeking planning permission for a single wind turbine on land at Clotworthy Farm, Coldridge, Devon.
The proposed turbine has a rated capacity of 330kW, which based on the average wind speed at the site has a predicted energy generation output of 900 MWh per annum, which is the equivalent of 220 residential properties."
Source: Flyer advertising a Public Exhibition at Coldridge Village Hall, 20 October 2011

The proposed turbine is an Enercon E33 which stands at 67 metres (218ft. 10ins) high. We are concerned with

All this for the benefit of investors taking advantage of the Government's (read taxpayers') over generous feed in tariff.

Threats of Noise
There is a significant amount of evidence that the noise caused by wind-turbines can cause serious health problems, including sleeplessness, headaches and 'low-frequency nausea'.

Dr. Christopher Hanning a leading expert on sleep disturbance has said this:
"In my expert opinion, from my knowledge of sleep physiology and a review of the available research, I have no doubt that wind-turbine noise emissions cause sleep disturbance and ill health".
Source

The impact of wind-turbines has caused the French National Academy of Medicine to call for
"halting (of) wind turbine construction closer than 1.5 km from residences".
Source: in French, translation

Shadow Strobing is caused by the shadow of the rotating blades being cast when the sun is behind the turbine. The length of shadow varies greatly depending on how low the Sun is in the sky. This gives a "shutter" effect each time a blade passes in front of the Sun. This will happen about every second.
To get an idea of what this looks like, click here or here.

Flicker Strobing is where the sun reflects off the turbine blades, creating a regular and bright flash of light. Again this will happen around once per second when it occurs. This is not to be confused with shadow strobing (see above)

Proximity
The Wind Turbines (Minimum Distances from Residential Premises) Bill [HL] 2010-11 which has reached its second reading in the House of Lords specifies requirements for minimum distance:

(1)


(2)


(3)


(4)
(4) (a)
(4) (b)
(4) (c)

The “minimum distance requirement” means the necessary minimum distance between the wind turbine generator and residential premises as set out in subsection (4).

“Residential premises” means any premises the main purpose of which is to provide residential accommodation, including farmhouses.

If a number of wind turbine generators are being built as part of the same project the minimum distance requirement applies to each wind turbine generator individually

If the height of the wind turbine generator is —
greater than 25m, but does not exceed 50m, the minimum distance requirement is 1000m;
greater than 50m, but does not exceed 100m, the minimum distance requirement is 1500m;
greater than 100m, but does not exceed 150m, the minimum distance requirement is 2000m;

This map shows these distances applied to the Clotworthy Farm wind turbine. The villages of Coldridge, Nymet Rowland and Chenson are all within 1500m.

Turbine Zone

Danger to Wildlife (in preparation)

Environmental Impact
The landscape of the area is considered to be of high value with little scope to accommodate change. The precedent of permitting the erection of such a large turbine in this context could open up the area to a large scale population of similar developments. The image at the header of these pages gives an impression of how this would sit within the local landscape as viewed from Nymet Rowland. The turbine image superimposed is of an Enercon E33 on a 50m mast, scaled by comparison with the 15m high phone mast at Clotworthy Farm which can be seen to the right of the farm buildings.

ENV 2 (Mid Devon District Council) states:
"Proposals for wind turbine development will be permitted provided that ... the suitability of the site for potential wind energy generation outweighs the impact upon the landscape"
Source Mid Devon District Council Policy Environment Policy

A question of size
Taller than Nelson's column, the height of more than 15 double decker buses, just under five times the height of the nearest church tower, nearly double (1.95x) the height of the largest turbine in the area.

Note that turbine heights are often quoted as the "hub height", whereas to get to the overall height the rotor radius has to be added. e.g. The turbine at Nutson Farm, Chawleigh has a hub height of 25m plus a rotor radius of 9.6m, making an overall height of 34.6m (113 ft 6in)

height comparison

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2
3
4
5
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Nymet Rowland Church Tower
Coldridge Church Tower
Nelson's Column
Routemaster Bus
Turbine at Nutson Farm, Chawleigh
Proposed Turbine at Clotworthy Farm, Coldridge
Five cows

Sources of height comparisons:
Nymet Rowland Church Tower - measured by A Littlewood;
Coldridge Church Tower - R Lawrence via J Dike;
Nelson's Column - How tall is Nelson's Column?;
Routemaster Bus - Wikipedia - Routemaster Bus, photo reproduced by kind permission of Knowledge of London;
Nutson Turbine (Chawleigh) - Mid Devon Planning
Proposed turbine at Clotworthy Farm, Coldridge - Turbine manufacturer, Enercon

Eggesford Airfield
The proposed site is in direct line with the runway at Eggesford Airfield.
In their document 'Safe Operating Practices at Unlicensed Aerodromes' (CAP 793) the Civil Aviation Authority state:
"The runway should, wherever possible, be designed such that trees, power lines, high ground or other obstacles do not obstruct its approach and take-off paths. It is recommended that there are no obstacles greater than 150 ft above the average runway elevation within 2,000 m of the runway mid-point".
In fact the wind-turbine would stand 218 feet high within 1300 m of the runway mid-point.
To view a map, click here