July 15, 2012
England

Wind turbines approval a ‘disgrace’ says MP

BBC News | www.bbc.co.uk 15 July 2012

A planning inspector’s decision to back moves to put up six wind turbines near a Northamptonshire village has been branded a “disgrace” by an MP.

Energy company E.ON referred the plan for land near Winwick to the inspector, after claiming Daventry District Council took too long to consider it.

Chris Heaton-Harris, Conservative MP for Daventry, said the decision should have been made locally.

The council had opposed the plans. The developer was unavailable for comment.

‘Low wind area’

Mr Heaton-Harris said developers should not be allowed to bypass councils.

“It is a disgrace that what has been approved by the Planning Inspectorate would not be able to be examined in public by the local council or talked about at an appeal,” he said.

Councillor Chris Millar, Conservative leader of Daventry District Council, said the plans were considered by the authority for about four months before E.ON referred the plan to the inspector.

“I think this frustrates people and makes them feel powerless,” he said.

“If there were good reasons for this, you may not like the decision, but you would understand, but there is not as it is a low wind area and will involve the destruction of the area’s heritage.”

In January, the Campaign to Protect Rural England said Northamptonshire could become the “wind farm capital” of the country.

Two wind farms are operating at Burton Wold and Crick. Plans for others have been approved in Bozeat, Kelmarsh, Boddington and Watford Lodge.

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2012/07/15/wind-turbines-approval-a-disgrace-says-mp/