September 29, 2010
England

Fabricant backs wind farm protestors in their battle

Uttoxeter Advertiser, www.uttoxeteradvertiser.co.uk 29 September 2010

Abbots Bromley MP Michael Fabricant has reaffirmed his backing to constituents in their battle against a proposed wind farm on their doorstep.

Mr Fabricant has expressed ‘caution’ concerning the proposed wind farm at Bagots Park near Abbots Bromley after the company behind the plans moved forward with the scheme this month by holding drop-in sessions in neighbouring villages to update residents.

Mr Fabricant (right) revealed last week that he has contacted Government ministers with a proposal for an ‘exclusion zone’ which would have particular relevance with the Bagots Park proposals.

At the suggestions of constituents, Mr Fabricant has written to Ministers at the Department for Energy and Climate Change suggesting a change in the law establishing an ‘exclusion zone’ where residents within two kilometres of a proposed wind farm should have the right of veto with the planning application.

He said: “While wind farms can provide a valuable source of natural energy, there are costs to the environment both in terms of the materials used to manufacture the windmills and cabling and the immediate effect on the local environment in terms of visual impact and noise.

“As with all policy matters, there needs to be a careful analysis of the pros and cons of any wind farm project.

“I shall await the Government’s response to the ‘exclusion zone’ suggestion with interest.” As well as writing to the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Mr Fabricant has also written to people living near the Abbots Bromley site.

In the letter, he expressed his view that caution should be given to such developments He said: “Personally, I am always very cautious about the siting of wind farms and believe they are unacceptable if the overall environmental impact will be negative.” Pat Evans, who along with husband John, live at Parkside Farm which is one of the closest properties to the proposed development site.

She sent the original email to Mr Fabricant asking him to take forward the exclusion zone proposal and told the Advertiser it was a concern on a national level.

She said: “I contacted Mr Fabricant with the idea as the exclusion zone is an issue not just here but throughout the whole country as well. I think it should be looked into at a national level.

“They need to look at this persecution of the vulnerable few, although I have counted and there are in excess of 100 properties within two kilometres of the site.

“I hope by contacting the MP it will be productive.” The company behind the plans, SSE Renewables, formerly Airtricity, claims the park could supply power to 10,000 homes a quarter of East Staffordshire households.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/09/29/fabricant-backs-wind-farm-protestors-in-their-battle/