Campaigners in turbine row
Campaigners fighting plans for a wind farm at Hampole have accused developers of underhand tactics – by using green activists to campaign for them.
Campaign group Hampole Against Large Turbines – known as HALT – is angry electricity company npower brought in environmentalists from Alliance 4 Wind to collect signatures to support their plans to build turbines in countryside near their village.
HALT spokesman Mick Balliger said: “We saw them collecting names on High Street – but then I found out they were representing npower. I did some research and it seems npower use them where they are trying to put wind farms.
“I think they are using quite underhand methods. There was nothing to say they are representing npower. They are trying to undermine campaigns like ours. I’m disgusted that a multinational company is acting in this way.”
A spokeswoman from npower renewables said they had taken a decision to work in partnership with Alliance 4 Wind to support Hampole Wind Farm because the group passionately supported wind power and wanted to encourage others who supported it to make their voice heard.
She said: “Often those who have no objection to a wind farm proposal feel they do not have to take any action, however it is very important those who support a n application in their local area, as well as those who oppose it, make their opinions known, so all views can be taken into account by the planning committee.
“With npower renewables’ knowledge, Alliance 4 Wind spent two days in Doncaster explaining more about the Hampole Wind Farm proposal, showing people the environmental statement for the scheme, along with photomontages and site location maps, and inviting people who favour the wind farm to sign a letter of support.
“Alliance 4 Wind has collected many letters of support signed by local residents which will be forwarded to the planning officer at Doncaster Council.”
Alliance 4 Wind campaigner Jonathan Lincoln said they were working with npower othey were in agreement on the need for the development of wind farms.
He said he would campaign against the company if they were planning a nuclear or fossil fuel power station.
He said: “We believe passionately in wind power as a weapon against climate change,” he said.
6 October 2008
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Tags: Wind power, Wind energy
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