An experiment to determine the effectiveness of domestic wind turbines has been approved by Teignbridge Council planners.
Two turbines – one each in Teignmouth and Newton Abbot – are to be erected on rooftops and allowed to operate for a year while manufacturer Wind Save tests for efficiency and disturbance to residents. The one in Teignmouth will be on Douglas House, Bitton Park Road, a block of flats owned by Teign Housing. It will have a blade sweep of 1.75m (5ft 9ins) and stand up to 5m (16ft 5in) above the main roof surface. In Newton Abbot, a semi-detached house in Gilbert Road will be fitted with a similar but lower machine, both of which are expected to generate 1kw of energy and which could feed power into the national grid. Concerns about noise and vibration were raised by councillors at Teignbridge Development Control committee on Monday including some from Cllr Geoff Bladon, who is also mayor of Teignmouth. He called for a six-month trial, renewable for a further six months if necessary. But others said a full year was needed if the turbines were to be tested in all conditions. Having received reassurance from planning officers that the environmental health department could demand the turbines' removal at any time should complaints be received, councillors overwhelmingly approved the scheme. Three applications for turbines on other properties were withdrawn after concerns about roosting bats were raised. Only Fife, Scotland, and Teignbridge have been selected for the trials, operated by British Gas, after the authorities demonstrated their commitment to energy conservation. l The European Commission is to take legal action against the British government for failing to comply with EU legislation promoting renewable electricity.