Catherine Langham, of Bulbarrow, Blandford Forum, Dorset, writes: While visiting the South Pool area over the recent bank holiday weekend, I was horrified to read that plans for a 112ft wind turbine at Winslade Farm had been passed by South Hams Council. The documentation relating to this application on the council's website includes a letter from the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty unit. It gives detailed reasons as to why a turbine of this size is totally inappropriate in an AONB, particularly as it will be very visible from Salcombe and a large part of the estuary. Therefore, it is incomprehensible as to why five councillors should have voted in favour of this proposal against the recommendation of the planning officer. I visit the South Pool area three or four times annually and have noted the development of Winslade Farm over the last few years, with a new farmhouse and solar array among other innovations to this obviously successful dairy farm. Cllr Julian Brazil states that the turbine will be a massive asset to this farm and that it is vital to support agriculture because it provides employment and industry within the area. The same article mentions that the farm has a robotic milking system which uses colossal amounts of electricity but presumably means that fewer agricultural workers are needed. I am aware that some residents of the South Hams feel that tourism and second homes do not add much to the economy or communities but, having lived and worked in Kingsbridge 20 years ago when the holiday season was limited to six weeks in the summer, I can see that the area is now far more vibrant as a result of increased tourism. Unfortunately, a precedent has now been set, meaning that many other farms in the area will expect to be granted permission for turbines of a similar size and a proliferation of these towers will certainly anger and deter visitors who come to the South Devon AONB to enjoy unspoiled countryside. South Hams councillors should beware of killing the goose that lays the golden egg because diminished tourism, combined with fewer jobs in agriculture due to automation, will certainly damage the local economy in the long term.