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Environment Secretary meets Northumberland wind farm campaigners

Owen Paterson MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs visited Northumberland last Saturday to meet with local campaigners concerned about the impact of giant wind turbines on local communities.

Figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), show that Northumberland already has the largest share of installed wind capacity compared to other English counties, generating 12 per cent of the total.

Campaigners are concerned about the long term effects of wind farms and that further installations will damage the local tourism industry which is over 30% of the local economy.

Speaking during the visit, Mr Paterson said it was important that campaigners’ voices are heard.

Commenting, Owen Paterson MP said: “It was great to be back in such a beautiful part of the world and I am grateful to Anne-Marie for the opportunity to meet local activists who have been campaigning on this issue for many years.

“While we all acknowledge the need to embrace renewable energy in a sustainable way, that helps us meet our national targets, it is equally important that local considerations, such as the impact on businesses and the landscape, are taken into account. Above all, it’s vital that local voices are heard.”

Mr Paterson was accompanied by Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Berwick. Anne-Marie has long campaigned against large onshore ‘wind factories’ which do little to address UK renewable energy targets but instead push up energy bills and damage the local tourism industry.

The Conservatives have set out clear planning guidance to ensure that local people who fight to protect this ancient and unspoiled landscape will have their voices heard.

The guidance set out by Eric Pickles in 2013 clearly states that local planners should not allow national targets for renewables to ride roughshod over local voices - the protection of landscape, heritage & local peoples’ voices is to be considered fully.

Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “This has been a great opportunity for local people to discuss their concerns. Across Northumberland wind farms are hiking up our energy bills which is crippling hardworking families. The Lib Dems and Labour have been in constant support of these monstrosities all the way.

“We want to deliver a better deal for Northumberland – Conservatives within the coalition understand that landscape value is vital for the economy of rural counties like ours.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .