April 28, 2013
England

‘Save our big skies’ – MP joins battle against wind farm

28 April 2013 | www.spaldingtoday.co.uk

“Big sky” thinking is being used by South Holland’s MP to support campaigners who are raising £40,000 to stop a wind farm being built in Sutton St James.

Minutes after giving evidence at a public inquiry into plans by Wind Ventures Ltd to build Treadings Bank Wind Farm with six 126-metre high turbines, John Hayes said he had spoken of the joy of living in Fenland and why it should be protected.

Mr Hayes said: “Emptiness of the countryside is not a reason to support wind farms. The joy of Fenland is its big skies.

“When I come home from London I feel liberated by its openness.

“You can see forever. For me it is spiritual – it’s magical.”

Some 30 to 40 members of protest group FenRATS gathered outside the Boathouse in Wisbech yesterday to show their objection on the first of an eight-day hearing.

It has engaged the services of a barrister and experts at an estimated cost of £40,000.

Wind Ventures lodged an appeal after both Fenland District Council and South Holland District Council rejected their application last year.

Senior parliamentary adviser to David Cameron, Mr Hayes said: “I was speaking as the local MP and said the plan was a totally unacceptable development that would have a adverse impact on the countryside and affect the quality of life of the residents.

“I already had objected when the application was made and although I was speaking as an MP I pointed out national policy was against the wrong wind farm being built in the wrong place. I am hoping we will get the backing we want for local people.”

URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/04/28/save-our-big-skies-mp-joins-battle-against-wind-farm/