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.