Local Parliamentarian, Edward Leigh MP, has joined over 100 parliamentary colleagues and jointly signed a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron calling for the subsidy of on-shore wind turbines to be dropped and for the new National Planning Framework to be sufficiently robust to ensure that local views matter when determining planning applications for new on-shore turbines.
The letter states:
“In these financially straightened times, we think it is unwise to make consumers pay, through taxpayer subsidy, for inefficient and intermittent energy production that typifies on-shore wind turbines.”
The letter concludes, requesting that the Prime Minister ensure, that the views of local communities are the priority, not centralised targets.
“We would urge you to ensure that planning inspectors know that the views of local people and long established planning requirements should always be taken into account.”
Two turbines are currently proposed in the West Lindsey district, that covers the majority of the constituency. Consultation has recently been undertaken with local residents about the possibility of building a turbine near Hemswell, understood to have a height greater than that of Lincoln Cathedral’s main tower, Edward Leigh said:
“I am not opposed to the construction of wind turbines, in the proper place and where local communities are not opposed. However, wind farm projects should not be encouraged by making consumers pay an additional cost added to their bills. This can only increase the problems of fuel poverty for vulnerable groups.
“The current 3,000 turbines are currently receiving a subsidy of £400 million a year which is a disproportionate share of the £1.1 billion spent on subsidy of renewables in 2009-2010. It is a policy that we inherited from the previous Labour government which in the current economic circumstances should be done away with.”
Cllr. Lewis Strange, who represents the Ancholme Cliff Division, which includes Hemswell and the surrounding villages, said:
“In the broad scheme of things they contribute so very little to filling our energy gap, whilst at sea they are four times more effective, other renewables provide much greater benefits.”