June 13, 2012
England

MP fights to cut fuel costs and wind farms

Sleaford Standard, www.sleafordstandard.co.uk 12 June 2012

Sleaford’s MP has vowed to fight on for lower fuel prices and try to halt the march of wind farms across our district.

Stephen Phillips, MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, met Sleaford Standard reporter Rachel Grafton on Friday to update readers on issues he was addressing that affected the town, while taking time to compliment the community spirit seen during Jubilee celebrations.

Mr Phillips said the Jubilee was very well celebrated in Sleaford and surrounding villages, and although the weather was bad, he had a fabulous time at the village parties he attended, enjoying plenty of cake and tea. He said: “It was our opportunity to say thank you to the Queen, you only had to look at how she withstood the River Pageant in the pouring rain. It can’t have been fun and it demonstrates how she has done her duty for 60 years, setting an example to us all.”

Mr Phillips is currently engaged in a battle with Parliament about lowering fuel prices for rural areas, especially Lincolnshire. He noted Sleaford is still paying more at the pumps than drivers in Grantham and Boston, and at the moment he is appealing to the Treasury to lower road tax for rural areas. But he said: “What we really need is cheaper petrol.”

Mr Phillips is vehemently against wind turbines, noting they were “springing up” all over rural areas, arguing unless the whole of a community supports them they should not be appearing as he udged them to be uneconomical.

Concerning plans to increase the population in Sleaford by over 4,000 as part of the Sleaford Masterplan, Mr Phillips accepted this could causes problems. He said that at one point Sleaford was the fastest growing town in Europe and while he has no objections to seeing Sleaford growing as a whole, he is not sure if Sleaford’s infrastructure could currently accommodate such extra growth.

He has loved the two years he has been MP for Sleaford and North Hykeham, and Friday is his favourite time when he can come home to his constituency and meet the local people, schools and businesses.

Mr Phillips added: “I always want to be easily accessible to my constituents, it is up to my generation to do the politics differently. I am keen on people being able to meet me if they want to.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/06/13/mp-fights-to-cut-fuel-costs-and-wind-farms/