In March 2009, although planning permission for the wind farm at Dunsland Cross was refused by Torridge District Council, permission was granted for an anemometer mast to be erected at the site for a period of 12 months.  Bolsterstone allowed this permission to lapse in March 2010.

On 12th April, 2010, a new application was submitted for a 60 metres tall anemometer mast to be erected at the same site for a period of three years so that wind strength and wind shear can be measured.  This application has not yet been determined but it is expected to be granted permission.  The application number is 1/0318/2010/FUL. 

On 12th March, 2009, Torridge District Council Planning Committee rejected the application for a wind farm at Dunsland Cross by 7 votes to nil.  Two councillors abstained.  Following the determination, DTOG issued the following Press Release:

DUNSLAND CROSS WIND FARM REJECTED

The Dunsland Turbines Opposition Group (DTOG) should like to thank Torridge District Council officers and committee members and commend them for their decision this morning.  They have shown fairness and due diligence in assessing this application and have shown that the planning system is still robust enough to protect residents and wildlife from inappropriate developments such as the wind farm proposed for Dunsland Cross.  They have rejected this application despite being under intense pressure from Central Government to push such schemes through.

This decision sends out a clear signal to other would-be speculators like Bolsterstone, the property and investments management company behind this proposal.  It was clear right from the start that this site had too many constraints, but only the landowner and the developer were unable to see this.

DTOG had to go from a standing start on this application.  Now, ten months later, it is an organisation which has knowledge and expertise of its own in all aspects of onshore wind farm development.

DTOG will now be a permanent fixture at Dunsland Cross, ready to examine closely any appeals or other applications which may be forthcoming.  In the meantime it will work hard to mend the rifts which this proposal has caused and will give its full support to the Parish Council in its efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the residents, by encouraging more appropriate, cost-effective renewable energy generation and energy saving schemes for our community.

The DTOG Objection Report was submitted to Torridge District Council on Thursday 22nd January, 2009 and was published on the TDC website the following day. It comprises 311 pages across 14 sections and 6 appendices.

Other opposition groups, particularly those fighting Bolsterstone, are welcome to use as much or as little of the report as they wish, but it is recommended that they drop DTOG a quick email to say which sections are going to be used before doing so. This is because additional information is coming in all the time and it is important to keep the material as up-to-date as possible.