June 24, 2013
England

Made in Chelsea star backs wind farm protest

By Emma Walker | Dorset Echo | 24th June 2013 | www.dorsetecho.co.uk

A celebrity guest headed to Dorset to show his support for the fight against a proposed wind farm near Tolpuddle.

Francis Boulle, cast member of hit TV show Made In Chelsea, was invited to an open day at Waterston Manor yesterday.

The committee of Taint – Tolpuddle against Industrial Turbines – hosted the event to urge more people to support their stance and raise funds for the campaign.

The 24-year-old even donated copies of his new book Boulle’s Jewels to the cause.

He first heard about the event when he met Katherine Butler, owner of Waterston Manor near Puddletown, at a house party in Austria.

He said: “I heard about the event and wanted to help if I could because I am against wind farms being built and spoiling the surroundings.

“While there is profit to be made through wind farms I am passionate about beauty and the countryside and we should all be conscientious about the people who live around here and their landscape.”

Francis’ visit to Dorset comes after his fellow reality TV cast members paid a visit to Portland last November.

He told the Echo that he loved visiting the county and had many friends in the area.

The day also offered the chance to find out more about the campaign, with Taint preparing posters to show the manor set against a landscape featuring the turbines.

Mrs Butler, who is also a member of Taint, said: “It’s been a fantastic day- we have raised all the money we need to help us in the next step of the fight.

“It’s great that Francis came down to help us raise awareness.”

The event, which hosted almost 1,000 guests, offered two question and answer sessions, one on the wind farm and the other given by representatives from the Thomas Hardy Society about Waterston Manor’s role in Far from the Madding Crowd.

Funds raised on the day will help the Taint group pay for various expert reports commissioned to support their fight against the wind farm.

The Taint campaign was set up by villagers angry at proposals by West Coast Energy to erect nine turbines standing 126.5metres tall to the north of Tolpuddle.

Over 1,000 representations have already been made in relation to the planning application submitted to West Dorset District Council this year as residents fear for the impact on the local landscape.

For more information about the Taint campaign visit taint.org.uk Details of the planning application submitted to West Dorset District Council can be seen at dorsetforyou.com.


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2013/06/24/made-in-chelsea-star-backs-wind-farm-protest/