SIR — West Somerset District Council has now received the final planning application for West Hinkley Wind Farm. Everyone from Bridgwater to Williton and beyond should be concerned about this application and take the time to look at it and comment to West Somerset District Council. In Bridgwater pedestrian safety barriers will be removed from roundabouts and in Cannington a whole pavement will be removed for a period of six months so the 47 metre long blade transporters can gain access to the site. In order for a connection to be made to the electricity supply, network cables will be trenched from the West Hinkley site for 17 kilometres along the existing road network (mainly A39) to Bowhayes substation near Washford, the nearest suitable connection. Fields will be turned into building sites, tracks and footpaths into roads. Vast amounts of concrete will poured into the ground for the foundations. The 'worst-case scenario' is that all birds will be displaced from a zone around the turbines of 300m in breeding season and 800m in winter due to noise. Badgers, bats, barn owls, foxes, rabbits, deer, archaeological remains and species-rich ancient hedgerow will all face disruption. The 12 turbines, 380 feet in height, will be visible from Weston to Minehead and from the Quantocks to the Mendips. They will also be visible from the conservation area of Stogursey. English Heritage has raised concerns that the turbines will be visible from the approach to and Fairfield House and would impact on the 'owner's amenity' - the owner is Lady Gass, the major landowner involved in this scheme! British Energy has concerns about 'blade throw'. Walkers using the numerous footpaths on the proposed site need to be concerned about this as well - the safety distance from footpath to turbine is 40metres, a blade length. Accidents do happen. In Scotland earlier this year part of a blade was thrown between 50 and 60 metres. Do you really want this on the edge of the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, County Wildlife Site and on your coastline? Make your feelings known to your parish and district councillors and to the planning department at West Somerset District Council, Williton, now. Thank you. Sue Jones, Knighton Grange, Burton.
