Sir Edward Leigh writes to Eric Pickles asking for intervention in Hemswell Cliff planning appeal.

Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, has written to Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government, seeking his intervention in the Hemswell Cliff wind farm saga. The planning committee of West Lindsey District council had refused permission for a wind farm proposed by RWE Group but the firm has launched an appeal against the decision.

In his letter to the minister, Edward Leigh noted the wind turbine proposal at Hemswell Cliff provoked “substantial resistance from local residents and other concerned people, verging on the unanimous.” He voiced his own “deep-seated opposition” to the proposal and raised the alarm regarding RWE’s appeal.

“There is a very real risk of the principles of localism and subsidiarity being significantly undermined if deep-pocketed groups like RWE are capable of spinning out the appeals process to such an extent that district councils and the concerned parish councils feel they cannot feasibly compete,” Sir Edward warned in his letter. “Alongside concerned residents and other local people, they may be intimidated into silence or inaction by the deep resources of such groups.”

Sir Edward asked the Secretary of State to intervene to “ensure that the wishes of local residents are heeded, that the very fair decision of the planning committee of West Lindsey District Council is upheld, and that the principles of localism... are respected.”