RESIDENTS in two rural areas are fighting plans for towering new wind turbines that will be higher than Truro Cathedral.

Opponents of turbines planned for the Quethiock area have issued a fresh call for Cornwall Council to place a moratorium on further turbine developments across the county and to gauge their collective impact on the landscape.

Quethiock Parish Council held an extraordinary meeting to discuss a wind turbine application at Goodmerry Farm and a proposed scheme for another at Danett Farm, known as the Beacon Project.

The meeting was packed to capacity and the overall majority voted against both turbines, with an overwhelming majority against the Beacon project which is being put forward by landowners Stephen and Gwen Renfree and their agent All Wind UK. They are about to submit a planning application for a three-bladed 266ft-tall turbine on the highest point in the village which, they say, is an ideal position to farm the wind.

But objectors say they feel as a parish that the developments are being forced on them with no thought as to how this will impact the community or local habitat.

'The Beacon is proposed on the highest point in our

'Our local habitat would be destroyed, our skyline obliterated and our tiny lanes bombarded with construction vehicles. The tranquility we all share would be devastated, and many footpaths and bridleways would be affected. We are not alone in this situation as it is playing out in thousands of communities across the country.'

Many of the residents in Quethiock are concerned that the Goodmerry and Beacon schemes will reduce the value of their homes, and some residents have cancelled renovation projects as a result. Work totalling more than £445,000 has been cancelled or put on hold, says the group.

Meanwhile, further exhibitions have been held in Millbrook and St John on the Rame Peninsula about proposals for a three-turbine wind farm at Mendennick above St John.

Tracey Siddle, the developer for Reg Windpower, the company behind the proposals, was on hand with other staff to discuss plans with the public.

She said: 'There would be considerable benefits for the local community, for example, we could put up front £60,000 for their benefit when the construction is complete and then £3,000 annually that local people may find attractive. The turbines would create clean electricity and we would seek to use local expertise wherever during the construction.'

The proposals are for 81-metre turbines on land just off the B3247 (the main road between Tregantle and Millbrook).

The company sent out letters to 7,500 households in the area informing people of the proposals and exhibitions.

An action group, Rame Against Wind farms (RAW), has been set up objecting to the proposals and it has been trying to raise awareness among the public. The group is opposed to the turbines for the following main reasons: the visual impact and the effect on the local economy and tourism; the proximity to some 20 houses in St John; the impact during construction; and the health effect of turbine noise and flicker.

RAW spokesperson Maggie Cardew said: 'We aim to raise awareness and when plans are submitted we want to let people know how their voice can be heard. We carried out a survey in St John and 82 per cent were against the development. The 81-metre turbines are four times the height of Maker Church!'